BBC Football Focus presenter Alex Scott struggled to hold back tears after being presented with a present in the closing moments of the show’s final episode.
Alex Scott fights back tears after receiving a special gift during the final episode of BBC Football Focus (Image: BBC Football Focus)
Alex Scott was left in tears after being shown a photo of him with Bob Wilson on the final episode of Football Focus. Pundit Garth Crooks handed her a photo in the show’s final moments, and Scott became visibly emotional when he saw the photo of her and the show’s first-ever presenter.
After seeing the image, she said, “I was satisfied with this,” as she fought back tears. The photo was accompanied by a message that read: “Alex, congratulations on everything you’ve accomplished.”
She later said, “Garth, thank you for being my girlfriend today. For 52 years, it’s been amazing, and this show has done one thing week in and week out. Whether it was Bob Wilson in 1974 or the great hosts who have sat in this chair after him, you brought football to Saturday afternoons. What has never changed is you, the fans.”
Scott added in a choked voice, “As you can see, I’m not saying this isn’t difficult, but what I do know is that the football never stops, the stories never stop, the goals never stop, the drama and the heartbreaks, they just find a new home.
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“Thank you to everyone who has worked on ‘Football Focus’ over the years for looking forward to Saturday’s lunchtime. It was an honor. This is the end of Football Focus. Before we take another trip down memory lane, Bob, please give us a final word.”
He said: “Thank you so much Alex. All good things come to an end. Thank you for watching Football Focus at home for 52 years. We had the ball.”
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The show ended with a montage of all the best moments from the past 50 years. About an hour earlier, a tribute to the show was aired with a message from the longtime presenter.
Dan Walker, who worked on the show for 12 years before leaving Channel 5 in 2022, was among those who spoke.
Scott opened the show by saying: “This is the last time. Hello and welcome to Football Focus. Today we bring the curtain down on the longest running Football Magazine show.”
Alex Scott appeared on the final episode of BBC’s Football Focus with Garth Crooks (Image: BBC)
“After almost 2,000 shows, we’ve felt a lot of nostalgia along the way, and joining me today as a veteran of Football Focus is the very welcome return of BBC legend Garth Crooks.”
Crooks has been a regular critic on the show for 20 years and took the opportunity to repay Scott’s kindness by honoring his five-year tenure as lead host.
In April, the BBC confirmed that the iconic magazine’s TV show would not be aired beyond the 2026/27 season, after 52 years on screen.
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