Presenters Alex Scott and Dan Walker have engaged in a public row over Football Focus.
Recent reports claim the BBC are holding crisis talks over the future of the Saturday lunchtime show after a rapid decline in viewing figures.
Walker hosted the show for 11 years between 2009 and 2011 before ex-England star Scott took over.
On Saturday morning, Channel 5 news anchor Walker responded to the reports by tweeting: “It’s hard to see Football Focus struggling. I loved it growing up and it was an honour to present it and I still miss it.
“We poured everything into that show every week and worked hard to keep it relevant. I hope it stays part of the TV landscape.”
Scott clearly took this as a dig from her predecessor and responded with a GIF from children’s TV programme iCarly.
It shows a girl looking at her computer screen before saying, ‘Interesting’.
Walker then replied: “I’m not saying you haven’t Alex. It’s a saturated market and it’s hard work every week. I hope you have a good show today.”
The Daily Mail claims average viewing figures for Football Focus in August fell from 849,000 in 2019 to 564,000 last month.
Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson told the newspaper he believes the show is past its sell-by date.
“It has served its time,” the former BBC pundit said. “It’s a football magazine show, but there are so many other options for viewers these days and so much competition.
“It doesn’t surprise me. Football Focus is coming up to 50 years, which is an unbelievable run, although there was no competition 50 years ago.”
However, in response to the reports, a BBC spokesperson insisted the programme remains popular.
A statement read: “Football Focus continues to herald the start of a whole weekend of sporting coverage across BBC Sport.
“Week-on-week it is the most watched programme during that time slot and iPlayer viewing figures are also strong, so we know its popularity is enduring for fans.”
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Source From: Football News, Transfers, Opinion – talkSPORT
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