The BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards and Gary Lineker in particular have come under fire from Telegraph readers. Credit: PA/David Davies
This week's Telegraph Sport essay, How the BBC's sports coverage lost its way, attracted thousands of responses from readers. From outrage over Gary Lineker's pay to despair at the corporation turning its back on live golf, the topic has drawn a wide range of passionate contributions.
Ahead of a monumental year for sport, from the European Championships to the Paris Olympics, here are the five key changes readers say the broadcaster should make to better serve its core audience.
Trust from real TV presenters, not former athletes
Des Lynam struck a particular chord with his claim that the BBC had become “too out of touch with broadcasting”, focusing too much on presenters with brilliant sporting backgrounds but limited screen skills. “We need to focus on bringing back talented journalists,” says Matthew Edwards. “Don’t go for what’s most expensive.” Robert Eaton calls for a return to voices “who can paint a picture in their own words.” According to Gavin Laidlaw, “there should be no automatic promotion from sports star to microphone.”
There are exceptions, of course: Sue Barker won the 1976 French Open and was elevated to national treasure status thanks to her natural warmth and sympathy. Anna Stone talks about how she loved “everything Sue covered” and Christine Collingham yearns to be back listening to “people who have a really deep historical understanding of the sport.”
Continuing from Gary Lineker
There's no getting around it: Lineker's £1.35 million salary, coupled with his brash political tweets, is a source of deep anger across the board, with virtually everyone agreeing that the BBC should let him go. “Does anyone in the BBC hierarchy really believe that Lineker's mere presence in the studio ever attracted a single viewer?” asks Patrick Taylor. “No one else would have been hired at the BBC if they had made his comments,” says Anthony Denny. “There are so many capable people who could take his place and do a better job for a fraction of the salary.” Many are in favor of Mark Chapman being given a chance.
Gary Lineker is often the center of attention when it comes to reporting BBC Sport. Photo: Shutterstock/Neil Hall
Tom Porter, expressing disbelief that the star presenter was retained last March despite comparing government asylum policies to 1930s German language, says: “Keeping Lineker was a disgrace and destroyed the BBC's shaky claim to impartiality”. Michael Fearson says: “I've lost count of the number of people I know who don't listen to me anymore because of him.”
Show more golf and cricket
The BBC's abandonment of golf has never been more blatant. Although Ian Carter provides compelling radio coverage, the lack of any on-air rights meant the 2023 Sports Personality of the Year highlight reel lasted just eight seconds. “Bring back the big golfers and the Ryder Cup,” says Derek Youngson, who also notes how entertaining former commentators can be. “Peter Elliss and Ken Brown were incredible.”
The Corporation has also been warmly called upon to strengthen its commitment to cricket, with many readers fondly recalling the erudition of Brian Johnston and Christopher Martin-Jenkins in the Test match. Special. Roger Daniel accuses the BBC of “lowering its coverage to pander to the less informed – a classic example being broadcasting The Hundred but not Test cricket.”
Bring back the question of sport
Despite one school's view that the quiz has run its course, it remains valued by readers who blame the BBC's intervention as the sole reason for its demise. After Barker was replaced as host by Paddy McGuinness, ratings plummeted before the show was eventually cancelled. “A Question of Sports was the best program – I really enjoyed it,” says Sue Ridley. “This is from a person who is not interested in sports at all. But BBC management decided to throw the baby out with the bathwater. It was change for the sake of change, it was terrible and it failed.”
The issue of sports is no more, although the release is under Sue's leadership Barker has already been postponed. Photo: PA/Vishal Sharma
“My wife and I stopped watching after a few episodes of the new format,” says Derek Atkins. “Bring it back and make it a real sports quiz show,” implores Nick Trinder. Glenn Beckett remembers fondly the “knowledge and humor” of the era when Ian Botham and Emlyn Hughes captained the teams.
End Moral Lectures
One of the unmistakable characteristics of BBC Sport's magazine shows is the imposition of segments of pious variety, leaving many loyal viewers feeling alienated and ranting. Nick Palmer laments the “general awakening” of Football Focus in recent years, declaring: “It bears no resemblance to the Football Focus of yore.” “I can't believe we watched Ski Sunday where the presenters said skiing was too white,” says Hamish Smith. “This is pushing social engineering down our throats. Let everything be as it is, and we will not be constantly condemned.”
“An athletic program should be about sports,” states John Kinsey. “If you watch Rick Stein's cooking show, you rightfully expect a fish diet. Tune into BBC Sport and you won't expect a diet of lectures on politics, diversity and morality.” “Focus on political and social issues—leave it alone,” agrees Mike Riley. “If I want to hear about these things, I'll watch Newsnight.”
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