S8 EP1: Gary Lineker on England’s losing streak, leaving the BBC, and his frosty relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo

About this episode

Louis Theroux interviews Gary Lineker about England's football challenges and his career changes.

For the first episode in the series, QPR fan Louis Theroux speaks with former England captain, broadcaster and fellow podcasting titan, Gary Lineker. Speaking ahead of the World Cup in North America, the pair discuss why England always lose, Gary’s split with the BBC, and why Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t speak to him anymore. Warnings: Strong language and adult themes. Links/Attachments: TV Show: Tiger, (2021) ⁠https://tv.apple.com/gb/show/tiger/umc.cmc.1p5g95s1v5v0t7i8xjgc1f0wo⁠ TV Show: When Lineker Met Maradona, (2006) ⁠https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007cgb3⁠ TV Show: Match of the Day, (1964 – present) ⁠https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b007t9y1/match-of-the-day⁠ Article: BBC has ducked this for too long — it must stand up to brazen Gary Lineker (2025) ⁠https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/gary-lineker-instagram-post-bbc-matthew-syed-9x0jjhwcg⁠ Music Video: Total Eclipse of the Heart, Bonnie Tyler (1983) ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOxhH8N3Bo⁠ Podcast: Lineker & Baker: Behind Closed Doors (2018-2020) ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3GxmEAvR7lOSfpGAqnL9s1⁠ Podcast: We Have Ways of Making You Talk (2019 – present)…

People in this episode

Host: Louis Theroux

Guest: Gary Lineker

Topics covered

• football
• broadcasting
• World Cup
• BBC
• celebrity relationships

Keywords

• Gary Lineker
• Louis Theroux
• BBC
• Cristiano Ronaldo
• World Cup

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC, Lineker & Baker: Behind Closed Doors, We Have Ways of Making You Talk, The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics, The Rest Is Classified

Books & works: Tiger, When Lineker Met Maradona, Match of the Day, Total Eclipse of the Heart

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