'It's going to be a long night isn't it?!' - Alan Shearer and Micah Richards tear into Gary Lineker's Match of the Day replacement as Mark Chapman hosts first show since new BBC role announced

Lineker will leave his MOTD role at the end of the 2024/25 campaign after more than two decades in the post. Chapman, Kelly Gates, and Gabby Logan will share the duties from next season but the former was in the hot seat for Wednesday's highlights show. As the programme got underway, Chapman said he thought he'd "get some practice in", prompting a pile on from Richards and Shearer.

Chapman began by saying: “Evening, thought I’d get the practice in."

Both Richards and Shearer smiled, before the latter said: “You haven’t wasted any time have you?”

Richards chimed in: “The ink’s not even dry, Alan!”

Shearer added: “You’ve gone six too months early," and Chapman responded: “It’s going to be a long night isn’t it!?”

Lineker has been the BBC's most prominent, and at times controversial, sports presenter for many years. But this is now the end of an era with Cates, Logan, and Chapman sharing the MOTD presenting duties. Lineker will, however, stay with the BBC until after the men's World Cup in 2026.

Former England international Lineker will likely be back to MOTD hosting duties for this weekend's latest Premier League fixtures. Some key fixtures to look out for are Arsenal against Aston Villa, Liverpool at Brentford and Manchester United's clash with Brighton.