W1A Stars Hugh Bonneville And Jason Watkins Send Up BBC Gary Lineker Saga In Character

What better time could there be to hear from "Head Of Values" Ian Fletcher?
Hugh Bonneville and Jason Watkins in W1A
Hugh Bonneville and Jason Watkins in W1A
BBC

The cast of W1A wasted no time in poking fun at the row the BBC found itself at the centre of on Friday, after it was revealed that Gary Lineker would be “stepping back” as host of Match Of The Day.

Originally running for three seasons between 2014 and 2017, the Bafta-winning sitcom centered around a group of fictional BBC staff members who have to deal with a series of crises at the corporation.

Responding to the news that Match Of The Day will be going ahead this week without any presenters or pundits – as the show’s regular team are all sitting out this week’s broadcast in solidarity with Lineker – W1A cast member Hugh Bonneville fired off a tweet in character as “Head Of Values” Ian Fletcher.

“Right no yes it’s all perfectly under control,” he wrote. “Alan Sugar’s going to present MOTD and if Ian Wright does end up playing truant, Richard Sharp says Boris Johnson will stand in for £800,000. So that’s all good.”

Co-star Jason Watkins then responded: “Yes no brilliant brilliant brilliant Ian.

“I mean, you’ll know how you want to deal with this, but Timmy’s sweating a little as (did you know?) Boris is asking for the 800k PER SHOW. He knows less about football than he does about throwing a party. And Alan supports Spurs!!”

@Jason__Watkins Right no yes it’s all perfectly under control: Alan Sugar’s going to present #MOTD and if Ian Wright does end up playing truant, Richard Sharp says Boris Johnson will stand in for £800,000. So that’s all good. #W1A

— Hugh Bonneville 🇺🇦 (@hughbon) March 10, 2023

Yes no brilliant brilliant brilliant Ian.
I mean you’ll know how you want to deal with this but Timmy sweating a little as, (did you know?) Boris is asking for the 800k PER SHOW. He knows less about football than he does about throwing a party. And Alan supports Spurs!! #W1A

— . (@Jason__Watkins) March 10, 2023

Right no yes but I think Timmy wants someone with a bit more you know Clare Balding. She’s currently on that brainstorming retreat for BBC WINbledon in the Algarve but we could just about get her back in time #W1A

— Hugh Bonneville 🇺🇦 (@hughbon) March 10, 2023

I suppose we could ask the FA to cancel all matches. That would help us out of a sticky I mean wouldn’t it? #W1A

— Hugh Bonneville 🇺🇦 (@hughbon) March 10, 2023

Just had a missed call from Sir David Attenborough. Do you think he’d be up for #MOTD? #W1A

— Hugh Bonneville 🇺🇦 (@hughbon) March 10, 2023

Yes no good thinking Ian. He’s incredibly expensive of course and we’ve blown our budget on Boris. I have told various awards panels that if you keep giving people #LifetimeAchievement awards, fees go up and we have to pay them. If only we could get a loan to pay Sir David. #W1A

— . (@Jason__Watkins) March 10, 2023

Lineker became embroiled in a public row earlier this week, over his response to a Home Office video – in which home secretary Suella Braverman shared the government’s plans to stop migrants crossing the Channel on small boats – saying the language used was “not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”.

A BBC spokesperson said on Friday: “The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines.

“The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.

“When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. We have never said that Gary should be an opinion free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.”

Gary Lineker being interviewed on This Morning last year
Gary Lineker being interviewed on This Morning last year
Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Following the BBC’s announcement, MOTD presenters including Ian Wright and Alan Shearer said they would also not be appearing on the show this week, in a show of support for their colleague.

It’s since been revealed the show will go ahead without any presenting team, guest pundits or, apparently, commentators.

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