The BBC has announced that Football Focus 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.
As bosses scrambled to modernise and keep the programme relevant, they were accused of making the programme pedestrian, vacuous, uninspiring and uninformative – with host Alex Scott coming in for particular criticism.
Writing in the Daily Mail in March 2024, Simon Jordan said 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.
And fans on social media appear to see the cancellation as a good thing.
The BBC has announced that iconic football show Football Focus will come to an end at the end of the season
The show, which focuses on analysis and highlights of the game, has been fronted by Alex Scott (right) since 2021
One posted on X: ‘Good – it’s been an awful woke joke for years. #defundtheBBC’
Another wrote: ‘Go woke, go broke!’
Fans have been split on Scott’s role since she took on the job, with one writing on social media following the 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 footballer, saying in his statement on Thursday that 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.’
Scott’s predecessor, Dan Walker, hit out at the bombshell news on Thursday 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.
‘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.
Dan Walker (left) was one of the previous hosts, which also includes Gary Lineker, until Scott took over
Kay-Jelski, whose official role is director of BBC Sport, said: ‘Football Focus has been a hugely important programme in the history of BBC Sport and has played a key role in telling the stories of the game for generations of viewers.
‘This decision was made before last week’s wider BBC savings announcement, reflecting the continued shift in how audiences engage with football and our commitment to evolving how we deliver content to reach fans wherever they are.’
Kay-Jelski was referring to last week’s announcement that the BBC are to cut up to 2,000 jobs in a bid to save money in what will be their biggest downsize in 15 years.
Staff were informed of the cuts on Wednesday last week, with around 10 per cent of employees to lose their jobs.
Turning 52 this season, the show was first part of Grandstand, with Sam Leitch presenting Football Preview until it was renamed Football Focus.
BBC Sport chief Alex Kay-Jelski insists the decision was made before last week’s announcement that up to 2,000 jobs will be cut at the corporation
Bob Wilson became synonymous with the show, presenting it from 1974 and staying part of it for 20 years.
Other hosts have included Gary Lineker, Ray Stubbs and Manish Bhasin, with Scott the final presenter as television viewing figures continue to decline.
The BBC have been keen to stress that The Football Interview, which sees some of the game’s biggest stars – including the likes of Bukayo Saka and Michael Carrick – sit down for an interview, will continue and be aired at around midday on Saturdays.
Final Score will also start at an earlier time of 3.45pm, while Match of the Day will continue in its Saturday night and Sunday morning slots.
