BBC star tipped as Alex Scott’s Football Focus replacement after she plans to quit show and UK for good
A BBC star has been tipped as Alex Scott’s Football Focus replacement, after she planned to quit the show and UK for good.
Alex’s BBC future is in jeopardy over a perceived “lack of support” surrounding Football Focus.
She was “deeply hurt” by their response after she was blamed for falling viewing figures – prompting the star to make a complaint to bosses last year.
A BBC press release last night confirmed an I’m A Celebrity and This Morning star is set to take over from Alex on Children In Need.
ITV star and The Saturdays singer Rochelle Humes and TV presenter and BBC Radio 2 host Vernon Kay will be replacing Alex and comedian Jason Manford.
And when it comes to Football Focus, if Alex were to leave, Gabby Logan is the 3/1 favourite with William Hill to take over.
Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “Alex Scott is heavily rumoured to be on her way out of the BBC and Football Focus, with Gabby Logan emerging as the 3/1 favourite to take over as the host of the Saturday lunchtime football show.“
Following Logan in the betting is ex-pro and TV presenter Dion Dublin at 4/1, with fellow ex-pro Micah Richards 5/1 to take the role.
“Esteemed sports broadcasters Mark Chapman and Clare Balding are in the market – Chapman is level with Richards at 5/1, while Balding is a 10/1 chance.”
When it comes to sports presenting, Gabby Logan is at the top of her game.
The popular presenter is well known for her work with the BBC, and has become one the UK’s leading hosts.
Alex is now “considering other offers” – including a possible move to America – as her contract comes up for renewal next year.
A source said: “Alex has never been happier than she is right now, she’s just turned 40 and embracing a new chapter in her life, and the decision to part ways from Children In Need – an event she is hugely proud to have been a part of – was entirely mutual.
“She wants to concentrate on her ambassadorships with UNICEF and Refuge right now, and is also contemplating a move to America with her girlfriend, Jess [Glynne].
“There are no guarantees she will be with the BBC next summer – her contract is up for renewal and she is in talks for a raft of other exciting projects.
“Football Focus turns 50 this year and Alex is now seriously contemplating moving on from the show.
“Last year she was hugely hurt by unfair criticism about falling viewing figures – and felt she was thrown under a bus. The viewing figures were not as reported and she feels no-one backed her up and issued the correct viewing figures.
“The viewing figures are actually super healthy, and Alex raised her concerns as she has been in this business long enough now to stand up for herself.”
Last year it was reported that Football Focus had lost a third of its audience in the space of four years.
Dan Walker, who previously fronted it, tweeted that it was “hard to see” the show struggling.
Former Arsenal defender Alex hit back, replying sardonically: “Interesting.”
She then put out another message to the critics of the show, posting the show’s Sports Journalist Association award from 2022.
She wrote: “We have big interviews with Ange Postecoglou and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard coming up on the ‘Award’ winning Football Focus tomorrow.
“Make that a headline.”