Kelly Cates’ future at Sky Sports confirmed after Liverpool icon’s daughter confirmed as BBC MOTD host
KELLY CATES’ future at Sky Sports has been confirmed after landing a host role at Match of the Day,
The presenter will be on the iconic BBC football highlights show as one of the three people replacing Gary Lineker.
Cates, 49, along with Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will front the show from next season.
Her popularity with fans has risen during her stint at Sky Sports.
It had been suggested that her time at the broadcaster could end with her new obligation to MOTD.
However, it has been confirmed that Cates will continue to anchor Sky Sports‘ live coverage of the Premier League.
She will continue in this role on the days that she is not on duty with the BBC.
Speaking about taking the role, Cates insisted that she “can’t wait” to get going.
She said: “We are all friends and we’ve known each other for a long time and that’s a really lovely part of it.
“Not only is it a great role just on its own but I’m sharing it with two people I really admire, respect and genuinely like. It’s a great set-up.
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“It’s something that’s so well-loved and so well-respected you don’t want to be the person that goes in and breaks that.
“I’m just very excited, I can’t wait to get started.
“I keep thinking about that moment I’ll be sitting in the chair and the music starts, and I can’t wait for it to happen.”
Cates has worked for the BBC on and off since 2013, for Radio 5 Live.
She presented the fan phone-in show 606 alongside Ian Wright on Sunday’s between 2013 and 2018.
After joining Sky Sports, her role was reduced, but Cates returned to host midweek sports show, 5 Live Sport while she also provided coverage of the 2022 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Chapman is already working on MOTD and opened the show with a cheeky one-liner on Wednesday night.
Earlier this season Lieneker confirmed that he will be stepping down at the end of the campaign.
He will continue to present live FA Cup action next season, before hanging up his BBC mic after the 2026 World Cup.
Who are the new Match of the Day hosts?
MARK CHAPMAN
Chapman, 51, already has the gig as MOTD2 host on a Sunday night.
He also landed the hosting job for the new BBC Champions League highlights show.
Though not a former player, Chappers has shown his quality as a presenter and will be an able replacement.
GABBY LOGAN
Logan – who at 51 is the same age as Chapman – is one of the understudies to step in when Lineker is not available.
A vastly-experienced broadcaster, presenter and host, Logan seems to have done it all to cover sport for BBC TV – doing everything from Sports Personality of the Year to the Olympics, including Paris 2024.
She joined Lineker, Scott and Chapman as Euros presenters and is now on the BBC and Amazon Prime teams for the 2024-25 Champions League.
Logan joined the BBC in 2007 and was the main face of Final Score from 2009 to 2013.
KELLY CATES
Cates has worked for the BBC on and off since 2013, for Radio 5 Live.
She presented iconic fan phone-in show 606 alongside Ian Wright on Sunday’s between 2013 and 2018.
After joining Sky Sports her role was reduced, but Cates returned to host a midweek sports show, 5 Live Sport, mostly on Tuesdays, while she also provided coverage of the 2022 World Cup.
The daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish became a TV presenter at Sky Sports, working on several Premier League shows including Friday Night Live and Super Sunday, which she appeared on for the Manchester Derby today.