Gary Lineker reveals he's turned down TV role after Match of the Day exit - 'Not for £100m'

Gary Lineker may soon find himself with more time to spare but finds himself not remotely interested in entering the of reality television. The Match of the Day anchor is entering the final weeks of his tenure but wouldn't even participate in for £100million.

The 64-year-old recently , with his agent quoting the figure in return. Unsurprisingly it was outside of the budget they were hoping to spend.

"They said it was a little over their budget," Lineker said in an interview with the Timees. "Actually I wouldn’t have done it for £100million either."

It's not the first time Lineker has been approached for work outside of sports. The former England striker has a and even rates his ability to knock up a tasty meal, but does not believe he is of the standard to command authority on a show about food, despite earning offers.

“I’d like to tell you I’m a very good cook. I’m pretty good. I’ve been doing it for ten years now, and I’m obsessive. So if I do something and I realise I’m reasonably good at it, I’ll throw my heart and soul at it.

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"I’ve actually been offered to do cookery programmes, but I don’t want to, because whilst I’m a very keen cook and I think I’m a good cook, I’m not Gordon f***ing Ramsay."

Lineker has been the longest-serving host in Match of the Day's history, having taken over as anchor of the highlights show in 1999. but has come to an agreement to continue working on the and next World Cup.

It will see Lineker's £1.3million salary cut, and the BBC's reliance on him fade. It will be to the relief of top brass, give his social media presence, particularly since March 2023 when and

His replacements will come in the form of , and Kelly Cates as the show is revamped. Lineker reckons he is as good as ever however.

“I think I’m a better presenter now than I’ve ever been,” he said. "I know everything that can go wrong, and everything that can go right. Which is a good time to go.

"There wasn’t a great desire to give me another three-year contract," he added.

Lineker too, will continue to present his The Rest is podcast and recently assessed Paris Saint-Germain's win over . The ex-Spurs sharpshooter had plenty of praise for Gianluigi Donnarumma.

"I think you're right to point out Donnarumma because those two saves – particularly the one against Odegaard, I mean, that was a beautiful strike," he said.

"I mean, for a huge guy to get down that low, that quickly, to fend off a shot of such velocity was just incredible. I think he's probably, definitely favourite for the Golden Glove for this year – which he won of course when Italy won the Euros."

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