Piers Morgan plans to take on Gary Lineker on his World Cup-focused podcast, launching it while teasing rival broadcaster
Piers Morgan makes fun of Gary Lineker (Image: Hoda Davaine/Getty Images)
Piers Morgan is set to take on Gary Lineker for viewers after launching a rival podcast in the run-up to the World Cup. Lineker will appear on screen alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards after signing a big-money deal with Netflix, but now Morgan is taking on Lineker.
Mr Lineker’s Goalhanger has signed a £14m deal with streaming giant Netflix to broadcast shows this summer. The Rest is Football will be filmed daily in the US this summer as Netflix looks to expand into new markets.
Mr Morgan is currently attempting to compete against Mr Lineker and others on “Uncensored World Cup”, a show starring John Terry and Simon Jordan, starting on June 8th. In his social media posts, he declared he would bring “fearless debate and uncensored opinion” before criticizing his rivals and saying “the rest is boring”.
The Telegraph reported that the investigation into The Rest Is Football did not go well with Goalhanger, but Goalhanger declined to comment.
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“I just can’t believe Gary in particular didn’t laugh a little bit. We’re good mates,” Morgan told the Telegraph. “Of course, if they took it too seriously, that probably reflects the accuracy of the joke.
“I know Gary very well, I’ve seen what they’re doing and I have a lot of respect for them. I think this is the future. I think there’s plenty of room for both of us. But as he knows, a little banter goes a long way in football.”
He added: “Maybe we’ll have some kind of ‘high noon’ with me and Gary in Times Square.”
Mr Lineker, 65, will leave the BBC in May 2025 and says leaving the broadcaster has given him freedom. “I have a little bit more time. I’m not walking on eggshells these days and I’m allowed to have an opinion on things,” he said this week.
Gary Lineker will be in New York for the World Cup (Image: Ben Whitley/PA Wire.)
“But no, I’ve had a great period with the Beeb, and I’ve covered so many major tournaments, and obviously, originally I was going to do this (2026 World Cup), but now I’m doing something different, so that’s really exciting.”
He also questioned the BBC’s decision to broadcast the majority of the tournament from its studios in Salford, rather than following ITV to New York. “I’m a bit surprised that the Beeb won’t be competing until probably the last stage of the competition. Getting into the green box is unmissable, but I do miss some of the company,” he added.
“But the fact that we now have our own show with lots of guests and other shows has been completely replaced. We’re not competing with the BBC in this respect, because they’re obviously focused on live football coverage. We don’t have the rights, but we have shows that people can watch together.”
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