Mark Chapman joked about Wayne Rooney in the first game of the new season’s Day Show after Gary Reinker resigned as host. Chapman is one of three presenters to replace line cars, with Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan also making up part of the spinning cast.
The show returned on Saturday night for the 2025/26 season, with Chapman referring to the guard changes during the show’s opening. Chapman hinted at the panel that there had been changes, but instead of talking about the line car, he referenced the addition of Rooney instead.
At the start of the show, he said, “In the evening. The Premier League is back and the games of the day are back. You may have heard that there is a big change in the show this season.
Lineker had been announcing the match that day since 1999, but has announced his decision to step down following criticism over social media posts about the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Lineker re-shared the post labelled “Zionism explained in 2 minutes.” This was explained in mice that have been used in anti-Semitic propaganda in the past.
Commenting on his predecessor, Chapman told the Sun:
“Experimentally, we’ve all been doing it for a long time. I feel a bit sad that Gary is being asked that question because there’s nothing hidden from him. When I started something for Sky, the first person I spoke to was Kelly.
Logan added: “I want to pass on something very practical for Gary. We all received it with gratitude. But, as Mark says, he doesn’t need it. I know where the biscuits are.”
Lineker approved his match earlier this year by assuring viewers that they will continue to succeed after his departure. His final words were: “I hope Gabby, Mark and Kelly are the best when they’re sitting in this chair. The program is in the best hands.”
