Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Ian Wright criticises BBC bosses for creating a 'hot mess' by suspending Gary Lineker

00:36

Ian Wright hits out at BBC bosses for creating a ‘hot mess’ by suspending Gary Lineker as MOTD host

The BBC created a "hot mess" by asking Gary Lineker to step down as Match of the Day host and later reinstating him, Ian Wright has said.

The former Leicester City player was stood down following a tweet in which he compared language used to launch the government’s new small boats policy to 1930s Germany.

Wright stood down from Saturday's (11 March) programme in solidarity with his colleague.

"It's a perfect distraction from what really matters, and for me they made a hot mess I'm telling you," Wright said on the Wrighty's House podcast.

Sign up for our newsletters.

Up next

Chaos erupts in Brazil’s Congress with politician forcibly removed

01:28

Chaos erupts in Brazil’s Congress with politician forcibly removed

Video shows moment US ‘seizes Venezuelan oil tanker’

00:44

Video shows moment US ‘seizes Venezuelan oil tanker’

Suspects haul stolen Matisse artworks through Sao Paulo

01:16

Suspects haul stolen Matisse artworks through Sao Paulo

Peter Kay makes Paddy McGuinness dig in update on sitcom reboot

00:55

Peter Kay makes Paddy McGuinness dig in update on sitcom reboot

Editor’s Picks

Why Zootropolis 2 is the ultimate underdog story

05:16

Why Zootropolis 2 is the ultimate underdog story

Stranger Things 5: Star & creators break down final season

09:16

Stranger Things 5: Star & creators break down final season

Queen of Versailles on Broadway Stardom and Being American Royalty

40:26

Queen of Versailles on Broadway Stardom and Being American Royalty

Malice: The new thriller that feeds our ‘eat the rich’ obsession

06:56

Malice: The new thriller that feeds our ‘eat the rich’ obsession

More Editor’s Picks

ACFC

Why Matheus Cunha is Man United’s best signing in years

14:11

Why Matheus Cunha is Man United’s best signing in years

The real reason Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong

12:18

The real reason Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong

Making a Premier League team of the season that actually works

30:24

Making a Premier League team of the season that actually works

The Newcastle tactics that proved Eddie Howe is an elite manager

16:08

The Newcastle tactics that proved Eddie Howe is an elite manager

Well Enough

Dr Alex George and therapist Anna Mathur on how to feel happier

41:50

Dr Alex George and therapist Anna Mathur on how to feel happier

Alice Liveing on the dark side of fitness influencers

48:45

Alice Liveing on the dark side of fitness influencers

Millie Mackintosh on the true cost of alcohol

40:57

Millie Mackintosh on the true cost of alcohol

Jules Von Hep and Brendan J Dunlop on male body image and beauty

37:44

Jules Von Hep and Brendan J Dunlop on male body image and beauty

More Well Enough

Travel Smart

The TravelSmart guide to perfect summer escapes

07:11

The TravelSmart guide to perfect summer escapes

London’s secret spots: A local’s guide to visiting the capital

08:32

London’s secret spots: A local’s guide to visiting the capital

Mauritius vs Maldives: Which is the paradise island for you?

05:45

Mauritius vs Maldives: Which is the paradise island for you?

How to escape the crowds on an Italy holiday

05:35

How to escape the crowds on an Italy holiday

More Travel Smart

Drive Smart

The Updated 2025 Nissan Micra That No One Expected!

07:40

The Updated 2025 Nissan Micra That No One Expected!

How This Car Gets Amazing Aerodynamics With Hidden Features!

08:56

How This Car Gets Amazing Aerodynamics With Hidden Features!

Fiat Grande Panda EV Review – Nostalgia, Recharged

13:49

Fiat Grande Panda EV Review – Nostalgia, Recharged

What Makes the Genesis GV70 Electrified So Special?

10:57

What Makes the Genesis GV70 Electrified So Special?

More Drive Smart

Money Smart

Santa-approved budgeting: The guide to a smarter Christmas

02:49

Sponsored

Santa-approved budgeting: The guide to a smarter Christmas

Saving or investing? Ask your future self…

02:50

Sponsored

Saving or investing? Ask your future self…

Money Smart: ‘That Money Guy’ teaches you how to spend wisely

03:09

Sponsored

Money Smart: ‘That Money Guy’ teaches you how to spend wisely

ISAs: from types to benefits, all you need to know

02:39

Sponsored

ISAs: from types to benefits, all you need to know

More Money Smart

Music Box

Watch Sam Ryder’s brilliant pared-back performance of single ‘OH OK’

07:30

Watch Sam Ryder’s brilliant pared-back performance of single ‘OH OK’

Watch rising star Annie DiRusso’s electrifying pared-back session

07:54

Watch rising star Annie DiRusso’s electrifying pared-back session

Watch singer-songwriter Clara Mann’s stunning Music Box performance

05:23

Watch singer-songwriter Clara Mann’s stunning Music Box performance

Konyikeh performs gorgeous pared-back Music Box session

05:35

Konyikeh performs gorgeous pared-back Music Box session

Decomplicated

Why Is The UK So Bad At Eurovision?

08:03

Why Is The UK So Bad At Eurovision?

Can Meghan Sussex Ever Win?

11:54

Can Meghan Sussex Ever Win?

Trump tore apart global aid - here’s how the world will suffer

08:21

Trump tore apart global aid - here’s how the world will suffer

Is the party over? How Gen Z is killing big booze

06:38

Is the party over? How Gen Z is killing big booze

More Decomplicated

On The Ground

Mission Aborted: Trump’s War on Maternal Care

13:23

Mission Aborted: Trump’s War on Maternal Care

Death Sentence: The real cost of Trump’s aid cuts on HIV

17:05

Death Sentence: The real cost of Trump’s aid cuts on HIV

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

03:51

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

04:18

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

More On The Ground

That Dress

How Melania and Donald Trump’s awkward kiss got everyone speculating

02:03

How Melania and Donald Trump’s awkward kiss got everyone speculating

The Brookside kiss that made a lesbian storyline mainstream

03:22

The Brookside kiss that made a lesbian storyline mainstream

The Spider-Man kiss was an ordeal for both actors but it was worth it

02:15

The Spider-Man kiss was an ordeal for both actors but it was worth it

The green dress Keira Knightley wore everyone wanted

02:22

The green dress Keira Knightley wore everyone wanted

More That Dress

Binge Watch

Sinners star Jack O’Connell on his secret Irish dancing past

10:44

Sinners star Jack O’Connell on his secret Irish dancing past

Penn Badgley is glad ‘You’ is over

03:44

Penn Badgley is glad ‘You’ is over

The kid from Jojo Rabbit is all grown up

07:42

The kid from Jojo Rabbit is all grown up

Gangs of London cast reveal behind-the-scenes secrets

09:22

Gangs of London cast reveal behind-the-scenes secrets

More Binge Watch

Behind The Headlines

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

10:42

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

06:27

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

How airlines greenwash the skies

07:23

How airlines greenwash the skies

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

06:35

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

More Behind The Headlines

Sport

Non-league club’s incredible reaction to drawing FA Cup trophy holders

00:31

Non-league club’s incredible reaction to drawing FA Cup trophy holders

Ana de Armas awkwardly rejects Martin Brundle’s grid walk chat

00:14

Ana de Armas awkwardly rejects Martin Brundle’s grid walk chat

Watch: Mikel Arteta reacts to Arsenal’s dramatic Aston Villa loss

03:03

Watch: Mikel Arteta reacts to Arsenal’s dramatic Aston Villa loss

Laura Woods replaced by stand-in after collapsing on live TV

00:21

Laura Woods replaced by stand-in after collapsing on live TV

Climate

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

00:49

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

00:33

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

01:00

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

00:31

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

Culture

Strictly’s Amber Davies breaks silence on Lewis Cope elimination

00:58

Strictly’s Amber Davies breaks silence on Lewis Cope elimination

David Letterman takes swipe at Trump during Jimmy Kimmel appearance

00:46

David Letterman takes swipe at Trump during Jimmy Kimmel appearance

Victoria Beckham makes cameo in Lily Collins’ Spice Girls TikTok

00:19

Victoria Beckham makes cameo in Lily Collins’ Spice Girls TikTok

Claudia Winkleman makes vow to Johannes Radebe ahead of Strictly exit

00:28

Claudia Winkleman makes vow to Johannes Radebe ahead of Strictly exit

Lifestyle

Sharon Osbourne hits out at critics of daughter Kelly’s weight loss

00:49

Sharon Osbourne hits out at critics of daughter Kelly’s weight loss

Christmas repeat prescriptions deadline warning issued

01:01

Christmas repeat prescriptions deadline warning issued

Sharon Osbourne opens up about husband Ozzy’s last moments

00:58

Sharon Osbourne opens up about husband Ozzy’s last moments

I’m A Celeb star shares emotional moment she reunites with children

00:42

I’m A Celeb star shares emotional moment she reunites with children

Will Bayley's Electric Road Trip

Paralympian Will Bayley puts his “Range Anxiety” to the test

03:29

Paralympian Will Bayley puts his “Range Anxiety” to the test

The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

03:07

The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

Paralympian Will Bayley checks the performance of electric vehicles

03:07

Paralympian Will Bayley checks the performance of electric vehicles

To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

03:24

To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

Saudi Cup

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

01:36

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

00:42

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

01:26

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

00:32

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

Galaxy The Ripple Effect

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

04:23

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

04:26

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

01:01

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

01:07

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

Big In America

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

15:55

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

16:33

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

16:06

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

15:01

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

More Big In America

Saudi Green Initiative

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

01:16

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

00:36

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

00:48

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

01:08

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

More Saudi Green Initiative