Alex Scott has insisted she was going to leave Football Focus had the BBC not scrapped the iconic football show as she broke her silence with a lengthy Instagram statement on Thursday.
The BBC has announced that the show will be axed after 52 years at the end of the season – amid long-running accusations that it has gone woke.
The show has been a Saturday lunchtime staple since 1974, but in recent years viewing figures have dwindled as it has been criticised for being increasingly frivolous and right-on.
Scott, who took over as host from Dan Walker in 2021, wrote on Instagram: ‘After 52 years on air, Football Focus is coming to an end. To have been part of it has been incredibly special, and I’m so grateful and proud of the eight years I’ve been involved, including the five years I’ve had the honour of presenting it.
‘It has been such an important part of my life, working with some of the very best people in the business, both on screen and behind the scenes. I’ve loved so much of it, the conversations, the laughter, and sharing so many big moments with you, the audience. Thank you for being part of it.
‘I always knew this would be my last season on the show, which the BBC were aware of too. My intention was to move quietly into the next chapter, but sometimes things change.
Alex Scott has insisted she was going to quit her role as presenter of Football Focus had they not cut the show
The BBC announced on Thursday that the show would be coming to an end after 52 years
‘When this show began all those years ago, social media wasn’t a driving force, podcasts didn’t exist, and there was no instant access to information in the way there is today. Now, by the time we go on air, the reality is you’ve already seen it, debated it, and lived it across so many platforms. That shift has changed the whole industry. TV audiences have been declining for years, while digital and on-demand viewing continues to grow.’
Scott’s work on the show has received a mixed reaction, with one writing on social media following Thursday’s news that she was ‘the death knell’ of the show.
BBC Sport chief Alex Kay-Jelski, however, has been quick to defend the former England women’s footballer. Announcing the end of the show in a statement on Thursday, he said Scott is ‘one of our finest presenters, is hugely popular across the men and women’s game and is a big part of our present and future’.
He added: ‘She will remain at the heart of our sports output across both the Men’s World Cup this year and the Women’s World Cup in 2027, as well as continuing her lead role on the Women’s Super League and BBC Sport Personality of the Year. We are also working on a very exciting new project with her – more to come on that soon.’
As bosses scrambled to modernise and keep the programme relevant, they were accused of making the programme ‘pedestrian, vacuous, uninspiring and uninformative’.
Writing in the Daily Mail in March 2024, Simon Jordan added that the show had become ‘too smug, comfortable and pally-pally’ as debate raged over why a gay West Brom supporter had been invited on to talk about his sexuality.
Former pundit and BBC regular Mark Lawrenson, meanwhile, has argued that the channel is ‘top of the woke league’ following a rebrand that saw him lose his job.
‘The lead-up to this announcement has felt heavy, and at times it has filled me with anxiety and dread because of the toxicity that can come with social media,’ Scott added. ‘I’m often told to ignore it and carry on, but I’m human, just like you.
The show, which focuses on analysis and highlights of the game, has been fronted by Scott (right) since 2021
‘I would love nothing more than this moment to be about recognising the iconic show that is closing its doors and celebrating everything it has given, nothing else.
‘We still have a few Saturdays left together, and that is exactly what they should be about. Let’s make sure this show leaves our screens in the best way possible, reflecting the impact it has had on so many people.
‘Shows come and go, but what Football Focus has meant to people will stay forever. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey so far and I’m excited for a massive summer of sport!’
Scott’s predecessor, Dan Walker, hit out at the news with a thinly-veiled dig at his former employer.
‘Really sad to hear about the end of Football Focus,’ he tweeted. ‘I loved that show growing up. I used to watch it every week with my dad and I remember how proud he was when I got the job.
‘It was such a privilege to sit in the chair for 12 years, work with an amazing team on and off air and form so many lasting friendships. Saturdays were always special.
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‘The football landscape is constantly changing and it’s disappointing that there isn’t space for a show that has meant so much to so many people for so many years.’
The BBC are keen to now adapt how they bring football coverage to fans, with mobile and on-demand viewing on social media platforms increasing all the time.
This year, the broadcaster is set to invest in its digital output and content across all of its platforms, with ‘fresh formats, big personalities and more frequent, always-on content tailored for digital audiences’ presented.
Pre-Covid pandemic viewing figures averaged 957,000 for Football Focus, and reached 1.12 million during the 2020-21 season. In the 2022-23 campaign, though, numbers were as low as 687,000.
