Gary Lineker opens up on new role and reveals when TV return is set to happen

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Gary Lineker has shared his excitement about appearing on his new ITV game show. The former England striker was the long-running presenter of the BBC ’s flagship football programme Match of the Day between 1999 and 2025.

Lineker, 65, became synonymous with the show over the course of his quarter of a century role as host, before he stepped down in an emotional farewell last season . During his time on the programme, Lineker claims he rejected a number of offers to take on other TV roles.

However, it was announced in August last year that he was the host of a new ITV game show called The Box , set to air this year. The ex-Barcelona man has now revealed how much he enjoyed the show while speaking to James O’Brien on LBC’s Full Disclosure , also mentioning how it will be aired this September.

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Lineker began by jokingly saying: "I’ve got a new series… a reality show, actually, which I’m hosting. I’ve always been asked to go on reality shows and I’ve always said not until Ant & Dec retire or Claudia gives up.

"It’s called The Box and it’s a lot of fun. It’s genuinely something completely different to what I’ve done before. I liked the look of this idea. I think it’s really clever. It’s light-hearted and a lot of fun."

When O’Brien highlighted how excited he sounded about another new project and challenge, Lineker admitted: "I know, amazing! I’m a bloody pensioner as well! I think they’re looking at [releasing it] very early September."

In the show, 10 yellow boxes house a celebrity contestant who will be transported to unknown locations, before being released to face whatever game awaits on the other side of the door. Each week, two players will face The Duel, a finale in which the loser leaves the competition for good.

Since leaving Match of the Day, Lineker has kept busy with his podcast, The Rest Is Football , which he hosts alongside Micah Richards and Alan Shearer.

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Goalhanger, the podcast company Lineker co-founded and which is behind other big brands like The Rest Is Politics, The Rest is Entertainment and The Rest Is History, recently signed a deal with Netflix to turn its football edition into a daily TV show on the streaming service during this summer's World Cup, taking place across North and Central America.

Lineker had left the BBC earlier than planned due to a series of controversies surrounding his posts on social media.