The BBC has introduced that Soccer Focus shall be axed after greater than 50 years on air, with former presenter Dan Walker sharing his response to the information
Dan Walker has given his response to the BBC’s determination to axe Soccer Focus. (Picture: Getty) This text incorporates affiliate hyperlinks, we are going to obtain a fee on any gross sales we generate from it. Study extra
Former Soccer Focus presenter Dan Walker has shared his response to the information that the long-running programme is to be axed. The BBC has confirmed that the present will finish this season after greater than 50 years on air.
Walker fronted the programme for 12 years earlier than his departure in 2021, when he was succeeded by Alex Scott, who continues to host the present.
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Taking to X, Walker stated: “Actually unhappy to listen to concerning the finish of Soccer Focus. I cherished that present rising up.
“I used to observe it each week with my dad and I keep in mind how proud he was once I received the job. It was such a privilege to sit down within the chair for 12 years, work with an incredible crew on and off air and type so many lasting friendships.
“Saturdays have been at all times particular. The soccer panorama is consistently altering and it is disappointing that there is not area for a present that has meant a lot to so many individuals for therefore a few years.”
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Actually unhappy to listen to concerning the finish of Soccer Focus.
I cherished that present rising up. I used to observe it each week with my dad and I keep in mind how proud he was once I received the job. It was such a privilege to sit down within the chair for 12 years, work with an incredible crew on and off air and… pic.twitter.com/vrTIA8Hj98
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) April 23, 2026
The Saturday lunchtime establishment first aired in 1974, the BBC has said in a press launch that “altering viewers behaviours” had prompted the choice. The BBC’s head of sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, confirmed the transfer had been made previous to final week’s announcement that the broadcaster wanted to chop £500million in prices over the subsequent two years.
“Soccer Focus has been a vastly vital programme within the historical past of BBC Sport and has performed a key position in telling the tales of the sport for generations of viewers,” Kay-Jelski stated.
“This determination was made earlier than final week’s wider BBC financial savings announcement, reflecting the continued shift in how audiences have interaction with soccer and our dedication to evolving how we ship content material to achieve followers wherever they’re.”
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Kay-Jelski continued by stating that common Soccer Focus host Scott would “stay on the coronary heart” of the BBC’s sporting output, together with its protection of subsequent yr’s Ladies’s World Cup in Brazil.
The BBC confirmed that The Soccer Interview would assume the Saturday 12.45pm slot from subsequent season. This season, the programme has featured interviews with Bukayo Saka, Emma Hayes, Bernardo Silva, Hugo Ekitike and Michael Carrick.
A BBC assertion supplied further context on the rationale for the choice to finish Soccer Focus. “Followers are accessing dialogue, highlights, evaluation and information by means of digital platforms and on-demand viewing, and as viewing habits proceed to evolve, it’s proper that BBC Sport adapts the way it brings soccer protection to the widest audiences throughout tv, radio, on-line and to its intensive social platforms,” it said.
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“BBC Sport boasts a robust soccer rights portfolio and is ready to considerably broaden its digital output this yr rising content material throughout BBC platforms, in addition to a daring new slate of unique reveals on YouTube.
“That includes recent codecs, huge personalities and extra frequent, always-on content material tailor-made for digital audiences, the enlargement will deliver followers nearer to the sport than ever earlier than delivering extra high-quality, accessible and interesting soccer protection at scale. We are going to launch additional particulars on these plans within the coming months.”
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