Culture & Entertainment

Match of the Day presenters: Meet the pundits after 2026/27 shake-up

Match of the Day presenters: Meet the pundits after 2026/27 shake-up


A new Premier League campaign means a new season of Match of the Day.

The iconic football highlights show remains the jewel of the BBC Sport crown and allows UK viewers to keep up with all the twists and turns as 2026/27 plays out without paying for a subscription.

There have been changes over the past few years. Last term was the first without Gary Lineker, who was replaced by a trio of new hosts, while this season has brought four new additions to the pundit roster – Toby Alderweireld, Robbie Keane, Ashley Young, and Thomas Frank.

Radio Times brings you the cast of Match of the Day presenters and pundits for 2026/27.

Match of the Day 2026/27 line-up

Match of the Day presenters

Kelly Cates

Kelly Cates wearing a green blazer and holding a ball.

Kelly Cates. BBC / Holly McCandless-Desmond

Kelly Cates has a wealth of presenting experience, having joined Sky Sports for the launch of Sky Sports News in 1998.

She’s also fronted football coverage on Setanta Sports, ESPN, Sky Sports, ITV and the BBC.

Mark Chapman

Week 24 World Cup Pundits Mark Chapman

Mark Chapman. BBC / Holly McCandless-Desmond

A BBC mainstay, Mark Chapman has been working for the public service broadcaster since 1996.

The 52-year-old has built an impressive and varied presenting CV, which includes football, golf, NFL, rugby league and the Olympics.

Gabby Logan

TV presenter Gabby Logan, in a purple jacket, holds a microphone with a yellow BBC Sport cover to her face.

Gabby Logan. (Photo by Ian Cook – CameraSport via Getty Images)

A familiar face for sports fans, Gabby Logan has presented TV coverage across a range of sports including football, rugby union, the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and other athletics.

She is nearing two decades at the BBC, having first joined the broadcaster in 2007.

Match of the Day pundits

Toby Alderweireld

Former footballer Toby Alderweireld holds a blue microphone to his face.

Toby Alderweireld. (Photo by Joris Verwijst/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld is one of four new additions to the Match of the Day line-up for the new season.

The centre-back, who spent six years at Spurs and made 127 appearances for Belgium, retired at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane, in all black, on the touchline during his time as Ferencváros manager.

Robbie Keane. (Photo by Miguel RIOPA / AFP via Getty Images)

The next new face is a bona fide Premier League legend. Robbie Keane scored 126 goals during a long career in the top flight – the majority of which came for Spurs.

The Irishman has gone into management since retiring as a player and was most recently in charge of Hungarian side Ferencváros.

Ashley Young

Ashley Young, in a black jacket and grey shirt, stares straight ahead.

Ashley Young. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

MOTD’s third summer signing knows all about the Premier League. Ashley Young played 485 times in the top flight – most notably for Aston Villa and Man Utd.

Before hanging up his boots earlier this year, Young also earned 39 England caps.

Thomas Frank

Thomas Frank, in a dark blue long sleeve t-shirt, claps with fans blurred behind him.

Thomas Frank. Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Former Brentford and Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is the fourth and final new addition to the MOTD line-up.

The Dutchman, who impressed with the Bees but before a short and ill-fated Spurs spell, was part of the BBC’s World Cup coverage.

Alan Shearer

Week 24 World Cup Pundits Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer. BBC / Holly McCandless-Desmond

Alan Shearer is the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer and a stalwart of the BBC’s football coverage.

Shearer won the top flight with Blackburn Rovers but spent the majority of his playing career with Newcastle.

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney, in a black coat, smiles on the pitch at Anfield.

Wayne Rooney. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

One of the finest players to play in the Premier League, Wayne Rooney is fast becoming a fan favourite as a pundit as well.

On top of his MOTD duties, the former England and Man Utd captain is also part of The Wayne Rooney Show.

Joe Hart

Joe Hart, in a blue jacket and white shirt, with an ear piece in.

Joe Hart. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

A regular on MOTD in the last few years, Joe Hart is one of the most decorated English ex-goalkeepers in recent history.

The former England shot-stopper won two titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup with Man City before heading to Celtic to add to his trophy cabinet.

Micah Richards

Week 15 Sofaview

Micah Richards. SKY

Micah Richards has made the transition from player to pundit with ease.

The former England and Man City defender is a big character and has become a fan favourite due to his sunny disposition.

Ellen White

Ellen White, in a brown coat, looks left as she holds up a microphone with a yellow BBC Sport cover.

Ellen White. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

England women’s all-time leading scorer, Ellen White enjoyed a decorated playing career and was part of the Lionesses team that won Euro 2022.

White reprises her role as a MOTD pundit, having become a BBC regular since her retirement.

Steph Houghton

Steph Houghton, in a black jacket, talks into a microphone with a red FA Cup cover.

Steph Houghton. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

A four-time Women’s Super League-winning defender, Steph Houghton called time on her playing career in 2024.

That same summer, Houghton joined BBC and has been a regular pundit on both TV and radio since.

Danny Murphy

Danny Murphy, in a black coat, holds a microphone with a yellow cover to his mouth.

Danny Murphy. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)

A fixture of MOTD and BBC’s football coverage for some time, Danny Murphy remains part of the pundit roster.

The 49-year-old was best known as a player for spells with Liverpool and Fulham.

Ashley Williams

Ashley Williams, in a blue jacket and black t-shirt, smiles as he talks into a microphone.

Ashley Williams. (Photo by Tom Dulat – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Ashley Williams was part of the Swansea City team that won promotion to the Premier League in 2011/12 and became a top-flight regular.

The former defender, who appeared 86 times for Wales, has been a regular part of BBC’s football coverage since his retirement in 2021.

Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.



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I studied medicine at Trinity College, Oxford, and qualified as a doctor. There are already many excellent blogs exploring faith, humanism, atheism, politics, rationalism, philosophical doubt and everything in between. But I don't intend to limit myself to any particular subject. This is simply a space where I'll share whatever comes to mind, whether it's something I've been thinking about for years or just a passing thought from the day.