Inside Gary Lineker's world away from BBC including love life and new job

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As football fans settled in for this week's international matches, one well-known face was conspicuously missing from the telly: Gary Lineker. On Thursday, England convincingly beat Wales 3-0 in a friendly at Wembley, thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins.

For more than two decades, Lineker was a staple of coverage of England matches in the UK, but that era has ended following his high-profile exit from the BBC earlier this year. His sudden departure took place in May after controversy erupted over a social media post concerning the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The post, which criticised Israel's actions, contained an antisemitic trope - a rat emoji - prompting intense backlash online. Lineker later apologised, saying he hadn't spotted the emoji and emphasised that he would never deliberately share anything antisemitic. Nevertheless, the BBC ended his long-running contract.

Initially, he was expected to stay with the corporation until 2026, even after stepping down from Match of the Day at the end of the 2024/25 season. But executives chose to cut ties earlier than planned, with the incident seen as the breaking point after a string of earlier controversies.

Throughout his BBC career, Lineker often found himself at odds with management due to his outspoken political commentary. The most memorable clash came in 2023, when he was suspended for likening the UK government's immigration stance to that of "1930s Germany." His unwillingness to remain politically impartial, despite his contractual obligations, ultimately rendered his position unsustainable.

Since leaving the broadcaster, Lineker has embraced a new phase of his professional life, with new projects keeping him firmly in the public spotlight. Here's a look at how the 64-year-old has reinvented himself since his BBC departure.

One of Lineker's major ventures is Goalhanger Podcasts, which he co-founded. The growing media company produces hugely successful shows such as The Rest Is Football (where he features alongside co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards ), The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics, and The Rest Is Entertainment.

The business posted an impressive £1.4million profit last year. Founded in 2019, Goalhanger's programmes have consistently dominated podcast charts, drawing in vast global audiences. The company reported that its 13 flagship titles reached more than 400m audio downloads and 85m YouTube views in 2024.

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A major development came in June when The Rest Is Football signed a partnership with streaming service DAZN , granting permission to include official match highlights - including footage from the FIFA Club World Cup - within episodes. This deal elevated the podcast from purely audio to a rich multimedia format, positioning it as a modern successor to TV highlight shows.

Goalhanger's co-founder Tony Pastor emphasised the show's growing international reach, noting it's now not only listened to but also watched worldwide. The DAZN agreement marks Lineker's smooth evolution into digital broadcasting, free from the editorial restrictions that came with public-service television.

Lineker hasn't completely left television behind. In August, he signed a high-profile deal with ITV to host The Box , a celebrity competition series described as a blend of I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! and SAS: Who Dares Wins.

This will be his first TV project since Match of the Day, with production scheduled to start later in 2025 and the show expected to air in 2026. The format will feature celebrities taking on intense challenges - and one episode will have a football-inspired twist, linking back to Lineker's roots.

According to The Sun , two teams will feature local players led by celebrity captains, and Lineker's role as presenter will anchor the show. An insider revealed: "Given Gary's association with the sport, the odds of a football-related task featuring on the series was always going to be high.

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"The playing standard isn't quite what he's used to but having Gary's input will bring a sense of credibility to the broadcast. He's enjoyed filming the challenges so far and this one is no different, but it's much more in his comfort zone."

There has also been speculation that Lineker could return to football coverage during ITV's World Cup broadcasts, though nothing official has been confirmed.

As ever, Lineker continues to be outspoken online, regularly engaging in debates about politics and global affairs. His BBC departure hasn't softened his tone - if anything, it has emboldened him.

Despite the surrounding controversies, Lineker recently won the Best TV Presenter award at the National Television Awards (NTAs), breaking Ant and Dec's incredible 23-year streak.

In his acceptance speech, he shared: "I'm doing great. I'm enjoying having weekends off for the first time in my adult life, which has been great fun.

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"I'm still watching loads of football, still doing the same sort of things, and I've got a new show coming up for ITV , which I start filming next week - The Box, which goes out, I think, probably next year."

On a personal level, Lineker has been candid about his approach to relationships in recent years, embracing a content single life. Back in 2021, he admitted he "can't be a***d" with dating anymore, citing a lack of desire to pursue romance.

"I last went on a date a few months ago. Every now and again you might meet someone... but I've always found it quite difficult," he told The Sun . "Occasionally I have a date, but then I'll go and make it clear I'm not interested. So I feel bad. I don't want to lead anyone up the garden path.

"It sounds selfish, but I'm really happy on my own. I've got good friends, I've got my kids, I like cooking, and I just don't want any more sleeping with someone again."

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Lineker continued: "When you get a bit older, that urge fades, your testosterone levels drop. It's just not that important. I like the fun of flirting, going on dates, kissing and cooking for someone, but that's about as far as I want to take it.

"I'm not sure I'm asexual as such - no matter how old you are, a beautiful woman is a beautiful woman - but I just genuinely can't be arsed now."

Previously, he told The Times : "It's a stupid and horrible thing to say in a way, but I'm not massively into sex. I quite like flirting a little bit. Now that's all I do. But then after that... this is really being honest: It's like hard work... so I've hardly had any dates."

Lineker has been married twice. His first marriage, to Michelle Cockayne - the mother of his children - lasted three decades, beginning in 1986 at the height of his playing career and ending in 2006. His second marriage, to Danielle Bux, ran from 2009 to 2016.