The BBC’s flagship football show, Match of the Day, will be presented by Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan from next season, it has been announced.
For the first time in the show’s history, the role of lead presenter will be shared by three presenters.
Cates, Chapman and Logan will be ‘at the heart of BBC Sport’s football team’ that also includes the likes of Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and Alex Scott.
Current presenter Gary Lineker is stepping down this summer after 26 years in the role, but will continue to present FA Cup games and be involved in the BBC’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup.
‘Match of the Day first aired in 1964 and the trio are the sixth set of main presenters for the weekly football highlights programme,’ the BBC said in a statement.
‘It is just as treasured by audiences now as it was back then, bringing people together week in, week out.
‘Last season 33 million viewers tuned in across all Match of the Day Premier League and FA Cup programmes on BBC TV and iPlayer, while millions more enjoy the opinion and analysis on the BBC Sport website, app and social channels.’
Cates, 49, has been a key figure in Sky Sports’ coverage of the Premier League in recent years while also working for BBC Radio 5 Live.
The daughter of Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish said: ‘Once I sit in that chair and the theme music starts, I just know that’s going to be a really incredible moment.
‘I’ve worked with a lot of the pundits before and they’re all fantastic, so I’m just looking forward to getting started.
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‘I’ve known Gabby and Mark really well for years so to bring it all together, embracing the digital side of things, it feels like a really comprehensive football package for fans and that’s what makes it so exciting too.’
Logan, 51, hosted BBC’s Final Score programme from 2009 to 2013 and has covered some of the most high-profile events of the sporting calendar, including the London Marathon and BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year.
A former gymnast who represented Wales and Great Britain, Logan said: ‘It’s always a real moment [sitting in the chair] because it has such history.
‘It’s still so relevant to so many people now and talked about in a landscape where TVs changed so much.
‘There’s an enormous responsibility to make sure we continue to evolve while at the same time respecting the traditions of Match of the Day.
‘People want to see the goals, they want to see the incidents, they want to see the moments everyone’s talking about, so while we can tinker at the edges, the core is the football.’
Chapman, meanwhile, has worked for the BBC for well over a decade and has been the main presenter on Match of the Day 2 since 2013.
‘I know the history of a lot of radio programmes and TV programmes and I do feel honoured to be following in the footsteps of the people that we are following in and respectful of what they have done,’ the 51-year-old said.
‘This isn’t about the three of us, it’s about the three of us plus our pundits, plus our editors, plus our analysts and stats people and production people, radio and online. Genuinely this is about all of us as a department working together.’
The trio replace ex-England striker Lineker, who said in November that it was the ‘right time’ to walk away from the job.
‘I feel this is now the right time,’ Lineker said of his decision. ‘I think [with] the next [highlights] contract, they’re looking to do Match of the Day slightly differently, so I think it makes sense for someone else to take the helm.
‘I always thought my next thing would be the end. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. I’ve done Match of Day for 25 years.
‘It’s been an absolute joy and a privilege to present such an iconic show for the BBC. But all things have to come to an end.’
On the decision to replace Lineker with three presenters, Director of BBC Sport Alex Kay-Jelski said: ‘I know viewers will love these three incredible broadcasters and journalists at the heart of our football coverage next season.
‘They’re brilliant at what they do and Match of the Day viewers can be sure they will be well looked after as the big football talking points are expertly analysed.
‘Gary has done a phenomenal job at Match of the Day for the last 26 years, he’ll be missed greatly and we all still get to enjoy him on our screens across some of football’s greatest tournaments.
‘Outside of Match of the Day we’ve got some great new shows, voices and surprises lined up for the 2025/26 season across audio, video and digital and we look forward to sharing them with you all later in the year. It’s a truly exciting time for BBC Sport’s football coverage.’
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