Alex Scott was all smiles while hosting her first edition of Football Focus since the BBC announced the show would be coming to an end, amid criticism over plummeting viewing figures during her tenure.
Scott, who took over from Dan Walker in 2021, made only a brief nod to the broadcaster’s decision to axe the show in her introduction, vowing to ensure the long-running institution was left on a high.
‘Hello and welcome to Football Focus. In the words of Declan Rice: it’s not done, it’s not done yet,’ the former England international said.
‘We’ve got five games left to decide the Premier League title and five shows left in the proud history of Football Focus.
‘We’re going to be finishing our 52nd season strong, beginning today with a “tough-tackling” partnership of Ashley Williams and Farah Williams.’
The coverage then swung immediately to Chelsea’s controversial decision to sack Liam Rosenior earlier this week.
Scott made only a brief nod to the broadcaster’s decision to axe the show in her introduction, vowing to ensure the long-running institution was left on a high
The former England international has fronted the show since 2021, and was keen to focus on the football in the first edition of Football Focus since the BBC’s announcement
The BBC announced earlier this week that the Saturday lunchtime staple, which first aired in 1974, would come to an end at the end of this season.
This comes amid viewing figures dwindling in recent years and criticism that the show has become ‘woke’, while fans have been split on Scott’s role since she took over from Walker five years ago.
BBC Sport chief Alex Kay-Jelski, however, was quick to defend the 41-year-old. Announcing the end of the show in a statement on Thursday, he said Scott is ‘one of our finest presenters, is hugely popular across the men’s and women’s game and is a big part of our present and future’.
He added: ‘She will remain at the heart of our sports output across both the Men’s World Cup this year and the Women’s World Cup in 2027, as well as continuing her lead role on the Women’s Super League and BBC Sport Personality of the Year. We are also working on a very exciting new project with her – more to come on that soon.’
After the announcement, Scott took to Instagram to share that she had already put plans in place to leave the show at the end of the season regardless of their decision.
‘I always knew this would be my last season on the show, which the BBC were aware of too,’ she wrote. ‘My intention was to move quietly into the next chapter, but sometimes things change.
‘When this show began all those years ago, social media wasn’t a driving force, podcasts didn’t exist, and there was no instant access to information in the way there is today. Now, by the time we go on air, the reality is you’ve already seen it, debated it, and lived it across so many platforms.
‘That shift has changed the whole industry. TV audiences have been declining for years, while digital and on-demand viewing continues to grow.’
Scott’s predecessor Walker hit out at the news with a thinly veiled dig at his former employer.
‘Really sad to hear about the end of Football Focus,’ he tweeted. ‘I loved that show growing up. I used to watch it every week with my dad and I remember how proud he was when I got the job.
‘It was such a privilege to sit in the chair for 12 years, work with an amazing team on and off air and form so many lasting friendships. Saturdays were always special.
‘The football landscape is constantly changing and it’s disappointing that there isn’t space for a show that has meant so much to so many people for so many years.’
Bob Wilson, who presented the show for two decades, says it is a ‘crazy’ decision
Scott’s predecessor, Dan Walker, hit out at the news with a thinly-veiled dig at his former employer
Bob Wilson, who fronted the show between 1974 and 1994, also said the BBC’s decision to axe the show was ‘crazy’.
He wrote in The Times: ‘It has run successfully for 52 years, so goodness me, why are they getting rid of it?
‘I have always watched the show when possible and loved the fact that it was being enjoyed by the next generation. Now that I’m 84, it was a huge part of not only my life but also that of many football supporters. It’s sad news.
‘I am really disappointed it has come to this. The BBC has said it will be replaced next season by an interview show about what makes footballers tick. That is crazy.
‘People want to be told about the big games of the weekend, the issues, the news of the week, discussion, covering a range of clubs and personalities.’
The BBC, meanwhile, are keen to adapt how they bring football coverage to fans, with mobile and on-demand viewing on social media platforms increasing all the time.
This year, the broadcaster is set to invest in its digital output and content across all of its platforms, with ‘fresh formats, big personalities and more frequent, always-on content tailored for digital audiences’ presented.
Pre-Covid pandemic viewing figures averaged 957,000 for Football Focus and reached 1.12 million during the 2020–21 season. In the 2022–23 campaign, though, numbers were as low as 687,000.
Kay-Jelski said: ‘Football Focus has been a hugely important programme in the history of BBC Sport and has played a key role in telling the stories of the game for generations of viewers.
‘This decision was made before last week’s wider BBC savings announcement, reflecting the continued shift in how audiences engage with football and our commitment to evolving how we deliver content to reach fans wherever they are.’
Last week, the BBC announced that it would cut up to 2,000 jobs in a bid to save money in what will be its biggest downsizing in 15 years.
Staff were informed of the cuts last Wednesday, with around 10 per cent of employees set to lose their jobs.
Turning 52 this season, the show was first part of Grandstand, with Sam Leitch presenting Football Preview until it was renamed Football Focus.
Wilson became synonymous with the show, presenting it from 1974 and staying for the best part of 20 years. Other hosts have included Gary Lineker, Ray Stubbs and Manish Bhasin.
The BBC have been keen to stress that The Football Interview, which sees some of the game’s biggest stars – including the likes of Bukayo Saka and Michael Carrick – sit down for an interview, will continue and be aired at around midday on Saturdays.
Final Score will also start at an earlier time of 3.45pm, while Match of the Day will continue in its Saturday night and Sunday morning slots.
