Gary's back (and loving it) but BBC at war with critics

LINEKER RETURNS TO WORK

- David Williamson

LEADING critics of the BBC are now “at war” with the broadcaster following the return of Gary Lineker to Match Of The Day Live yesterday.

Opponents of the licence fee believe the case for scrapping the £159 charge has been turbocharged by the corporation’s handling of the debacle.

Lineker was taken off air last week after using Twitter to condemn the Government’s asylum policy as “immeasurably cruel”.

He also compared its language to that of 1930s Germany.

The star’s temporary removal triggered a walkout of leading sports presenters in solidarity with the former England captain.

But he returned yesterday to host BBC One’s coverage of Manchester City’s 6-0 FA Cup victory over Burnley.

At the start of the show Lineker, 62, said to pundit Alan Shearer: “It’s great to be here.”

Former Newcastle United star Shearer then apologised to viewers for the lack of football coverage on the BBC last weekend.

He said colleagues on TV and radio had been “put in an impossible situation”. The 62-year-old pundit said: “I just need to clear up and wanted to say how upset we were to all the audiences who missed out on last weekend.

“It was a really difficult situation for everyone concerned and, through no fault of their own, some really great people in TV and radio were put in an impossible situation. That wasn’t fair.