Eamonn Holmes once nearly got snookered by the BBC (Picture: GB News/PA)
Eamonn Holmes has claimed that the BBC tried to replace him with Gary Lineker – before his colleagues put a stop to it.
The controversial broadcaster, 63, previously fronted snooker programme Pot Black in the early 1990s.
However, he’s said colleagues were forced to rally around him when the Beeb proposed sports pundit Gary, 62, to take his place.
Eamonn dropped the revelation on GB News, as he joined his co-hosts in discussing remarks made by Des Lynam, who argued Match of the Day presenter Gary should stick to sport and not air political opinions.
His comments were made after earlier this year, the pundit was forced to ‘step back’ from presenting the football show until he and the BBC reached an ‘agreed and clear position’ on social media use.
Eamonn began: ‘He was very complimentary about Gary, says he liked him as a broadcaster.
The broadcaster hosted Pot Black in the 1990s (Picture: BBC)
‘Des is the doyen, Des is the Pope of broadcasting. He is the one if you were any good you wanted to be like because he was the best.
‘See, Gary Lineker actually changed the way sports representation happened after that because prior to that, there were anchors, people like David Coleman, Frank Bough, Dickie Davies, Des Lynam.
‘After Des, it was sports hosts who anchored all the programmes. You had to have competed at some level or been involved in sport.’
The former This Morning presenter added that he believes Gary is a ‘very, very good presenter’, however, the ‘landscape’ has changed.
Asked if he thinks the shift in presenting is a positive thing, Eamonn replied: ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea, particularly on football.
‘I think it’s very good to have someone who has an interest… in the game and be asked somewhat naive or silly questions at some stage but have the passion of a fan.
‘You don’t always have to be an expert to present certain stuff.’
Gary Lineker has sparked debate previously with his political tweets (Picture: Getty)
Eammon then recalled his time presenting snooker, which almost saw him snookered himself.
‘I used to host snooker for the BBC at that stage, and they wanted to replace me with Gary Lineker. Pot Black and things…’, he explained.
‘I’m lucky that the snooker players, I think, got together as a union and said, “No, we like Eamonn.”
‘And, actually, it’s a tremendous tribute to me that they said, “No, we want Eamonn to stay”, and they had that power that meant that I stayed on hosting snooker, that was a great compliment.’
The Belfast-born star concluded by hailing Gary as a ‘top man’.
Des’s original comments caught heat as, while appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme, the 80-year-old broadcaster said: ‘I like him as a chap, I like him as a broadcaster.
‘But, I think there are some areas that he should stay out of.
Eamonn hailed the pundit a ‘top man’ – even if he did almost take his place (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
‘For example, the last World Cup was in Qatar and he went very, very strongly about the limitations of society in Qatar.
‘And he’s right, there are, but he’s not the person to say it. Get on with the football.’
It didn’t take long for Gary himself to clap back.
Responding to Lynam’s comments, Gary simply tweeted: ‘Des is entitled to his opinion… as, of course, am I.’
The BBC has been contacted for comment.
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The Pot Black host was almost snookered by the Beeb.
