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Chapman replaces Lineker as Match of Day host due to Lineker's illness

  /  autty

Mark Chapman stepped in to host Match of the Day in the absence of Gary Lineker on Saturday night.

The former England star is usually the one analysing the Premier League matches, but confirmed his absence for Saturday's programme on X.

He wrote: 'Some good news for some: I've been silenced… with a rotten cold that seems to be lasting forever.'

'Hate missing @BBCMOTD but I'll be watching'.

While there was no initial replacement named, BBC lined up with Mark Chapman in the hotseat.

Chapman is more than capable of stepping into Lineker's role, having hosted Match of the Day 2 on a Sunday night for over a decade.

Alongside this, the 50-year-old works for Sky Sports and has hosted a multitude of sporting events.

Chapman has stepped in for Lineker before, most notably when the former England international fell out with the BBC.

This came as the corporation's social media guidelines for presenters were rewritten after Lineker sparked a backlash by comparing the government's rhetoric on immigration to Nazi Germany.

In December, the former footballer was accused of breaching the new guidelines - including by the BBC's incoming chairman - after a series of tweets targeting Tory MPs. However, he denied this.

Chapman stepped in before Lineker's dispute with the BBC was resolved after a series of talks and Match of the Day has been as strong as ever since Lineker's return.