Lineker forced to miss Champions League as new project takes centre stage

Gary Lineker’s latest venture will see him team up with ITV but that will cost him the chance to watch this week’s Champions League action with Liverpool and Arsenal in action

Gary Lineker will miss out on watching any of this week’s Champions League as he begins filming his new show for ITV – ‘The Box’. He has penned a deal to front the new show, but it will cost him the chance to watch any European action.

Lineker has been associated with the BBC for more than two decades, but he bought the curtain down on his time with the corporation at the end of last season. At that point, the two parties went their separate ways.

He’s since penned a new deal with ITV and will present a gameshow which is seen as a cross between ‘I’m a Celeb’ and ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’. Filming begins this week and will last three weeks, before being broadcast on ITV next year.

READ MORE: Why was Gary Lineker axed from the BBC? Ex Match of the Day makes history with NTA winREAD MORE: Gary Lineker makes candid confession about his BBC axe after winning an NTA

Lineker’s former Match of the Day colleague Alan Shearer confessed that he would not be present to watch Newcastle take on Barcelona in a blockbuster clash at St James’ Park – leading Lineker to admit he too would be missing out.

He said on The Rest is Football podcast: “I can’t go because I’m starting filming for my new show, ‘The Box’, starting Wednesday. Three weeks of filming, I can’t give too much away, I don’t know what I can and can’t say.

“I think (it will be out) in the spring – and early next year, but we’re going to record over the next three weeks. I’m looking forward to it actually, it should be a lot of fun. Some good guests, which I can’t say, not at the moment. Oh dear, could you imagine what would happen if I gave the game away? I’d be in the dog house before it even started.”

Lineker’s new show will see 12 celebrities get placed in boxes before receiving daring challenges – a concept that has already proved a huge hit in Norway. The ex-England international – fresh from winning the Best TV Presenter gong at the NTA Awards – will be central to the show’s success.

But his filming means he will miss some stellar clashes that will begin the European season. Newcastle return to the Champions League for a second time in three years, but have a daunting clash against Barcelona. Although they were able to secure a stunning win over PSG the last time they were in the competition.

Chelsea will look to underline their rise when they head to Germany to face heavyweights Bayern Munich. Harry Kane will be the man they need to stop, while Premier League leaders Liverpool will take on Atletico Madrid.

Manchester City will want to prove they are on the right track with a game against Napoli, while Europa League winners Tottenham will host Villarreal.

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