Gary Lineker – latest: BBC talks with presenter ‘moving in right direction’ as disruption continues

Children who arrive in the UK on small boats will be detained in immigration centres under Rishi Sunak’s plan to tackle the crisis, it has emerged – sparking a backlash among senior Conservatives.

Campaigners, MPs and have pointed out that the bill allows the detention of families with children, reversing a ban introduced by the David Cameron-led coalition government a decade ago.

The Refugee Council and other experts fear the legislation could allow the deportation of unaccompanied children if returning them to their country of origin is deemed safe – an idea denied by government.

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest has the story:

Gary Lineker said “I can’t say anything” to questions from reporters when he left his home in Barnes, south-west London, to walk his dog on Sunday morning.

He was asked “do you still want to work for the BBC?”, “have you spoken to Tim Davie overnight?”, “have you had discussions with BT or Sky?” and “is this the end of your presenting career?”, but provided no response.

He was dressed in blue jeans, a blue zipped jumper and walking boots, and left for a nearby park.

The BBC wants to “pick and choose” when its presenters can be impartial, former England football star John Barnes has said.

Speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mr Barnes said: “I don’t know when the BBC has ever been impartial but BBC reporting on the World Cup was anything but impartial.

“So, it seems that they want to pick and choose when they want to be partial, criticising others or criticising other countries or other political parties or other religions seems to be okay.

“But, of course, if you then criticise what goes on in this country, then it seems that they will then come up with the impartiality rule.”

There were no words. Which was apt in its own way, because when people can’t speak freely, there often aren’t. There were noises, the sound of various crowds. But there was not even the most iconic theme tune in sports broadcasting. Which is just as well, because this wasn’t Match of the Day. It was a 20-minute highlights package stitched together, looking like the kind of cheap production of goals from a second-rate European league that was waiting for some interchangeable, inoffensive song to be added on before it was broadcast.

Out senior football writer Richard Jolly on the burgeoning impartiality row between Gary Lineker and the BBC:

A former BBC executive has described Gary Lineker as a “brilliant” broadcaster but questioned if he has “outgrown” his role at the BBC.

Peter Salmon, who among his many roles was previously the controller of BBC One and director of sport, said the fallout of the impartiality row surrounding the former England footballer is a “mess” and feels director general Tim Davie needs to get a “grip” of the situation.

Discussing Lineker‘s role while on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Salmon said: “It’s complex and he’s a major figure. Twenty-five years in Match Of The Day - he’s more than just a TV presenter, he’s a national figure.

“He’s got views, he’s got passions, he’s been involved in looking after Ukrainian refugees. It may be that Gary’s outgrown the job and the role in the BBC.

“Twenty-five years in, before that Des Lynam, Gary took over, he’s been brilliant. Sometimes there’s a point at which you cross the line.”

Reflecting on the disruption to the BBC’s sports schedule this weekend due to pundits walking out in solidarity with Lineker, he added: “It’s a mess, isn’t it?

“They must be wishing they could reel back 72 hours and start all over again. It’s Oscars day but there’s no awards for how this has been managed.

“I think they’ve got to take action pretty quickly. It doesn’t help the chairman of the BBC himself is slacked to one side in this process and there’s a bit of an issue. Tim Davie is isolated in some ways, he needs to come home and grip this now. We need him back running the ship.”

Saturday night’s limited Match Of The Day (MOTD) was watched by 2.6m viewers, according to BBC News.

The football highlights programme was viewed by nearly half a million more than last Saturday’s show, which had an audience of 2.1 million, according to BARB overnight figures.

However, the show was radically different as it aired for only 20 minutes and did not include accompanying commentary or analysis from pundits or even its famous theme tune - instead broadcasting only short highlight clips of the day’s matches.

Gary Lineker said “I can’t say anything” to questions from reporters when he left his home in Barnes, south-west London, to walk his dog on Sunday morning.

He was asked “do you still want to work for the BBC?”, “have you spoken to Tim Davie overnight?”, “have you had discussions with BT or Sky?” and “is this the end of your presenting career?”, but provided no response.

He was dressed in blue jeans, a blue zipped jumper and walking boots, and left for a nearby park.

Children who arrive in the UK on small boats will be detained in immigration centres under Rishi Sunak’s plan to tackle the crisis, it has emerged – sparking outrage among charities and concern among Tory MPs.

A coalition of more than 350 charities, businesses and unions have condemned home secretary Suella Braverman’s Illegal Migration Bill, as the Archbishop of York said it “amounts to cruelty without purpose”.

Campaigners have pointed out that the bill allows the detention of families with children, reversing a ban introduced by the David Cameron-led coalition government a decade ago.

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest has more:

Following the heavily limited edition of Match of the Day on Saturday, it was announced this morning that both Match of the Day 2 and the coverage of the Women’s Super League match would follow a “much reduced” format today.

Saturday’s episode of Match of the Day lasted “just 20 minutes” - with no presenter, pundits, commentary or interviews.

Yesterday’s disruption did not stop there, however, as both Football Focus and Final Score were pulled at the eleventh hour.

Bargain Hunt was broadcast in place of Football Focus on BBC One at noon on Saturday, while The Repair Shop was due to run instead of Final Score at 4.30pm.

BBC Radio 5 Live was also impacted, with host Mark Chapman relinquishing the helm of both 5 Live Sport and Fighting Talk.

Pre-recorded content replaced the live broadcasts, with Kammy & Ben’s Proper Football Podcast aired during Fighting Talk’s slot followed by The Footballer’s Football Podcast which played on Radio 5 Live when 5 Live Sport would have aired.