BBC Match of the Day to be shaken up as One Show's Roman Kemp set for job

Match of the Day is set to undergo major changes from next season, following the departure of presenter Gary Lineker.

The former England striker will leave the BBC show at the end of the season having hosted it for 25 years, with the search already underway for his replacement. Several names have been put forward as potential candidates for the role, including some of the BBC's most popular presenters.

Mark Chapman, who already hosts Match of the Day 2, was quickly identified as a frontrunner to take over from Lineker, having worked at the BBC for nearly 30 years. But plans for him to fill the hotseat have reportedly hit a snag, with Chapman allegedly not happy with the broadcaster's plans for him to share the role with presenter Kelly Sommers.

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His name remains in the mix, however, but several other names have been linked with the job, including Welsh presenters Gabby Logan and Jason Mohammed. Other potential candidates include Alex Scott, Sky Sports' Kelly Cates and TNT Sports anchor Reshmin Chowdhury, while current MOTD pundit Micah Richards has also seen his name mentioned in connection with the role.

But the iconic Premier League highlights show is set to undergo further changes, with BBC bosses looking at "new digital opportunities" to grow the Match of the Day brand.

A source told The Guardian: "The BBC isn't worrying about Match of the Day being less relevant because of how people consume modern media, there is actually an opportunity here to exploit that change.

"The show is still hugely popular and has been remarkably resilient, plus there are new digital opportunities – we're not looking at retrenchment of the brand, but growth."

While most of the potential changes are still being kept firmly under wraps, it has been reported that BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski has lined up radio DJ and The One Show host Roman Kemp for a 'digital role' in connection to the show.

Exactly what this role would entail remains unknown, but it is expected to be largely social media-focused, with Kemp's own huge online presence believed to be a draw for corporation bosses.

The show could also see a turnover in pundits, with fan favourite Ian Wright departing the show at the end of last season. But even with Lineker and Wright gone, Alan Shearer has now reportedly signed a new contract to keep his role as a pundit on the programme.

Joe Hart, Theo Walcott and ex-England star Steph Houghton are among the new faces on the show this season and more could follow, while the likes of Danny Murphy and Martin Keown are expected to stay on for at least the next campaign.