Inside BBC amid Gary Lineker crisis - 'rightwing watch' WhatsApp to staff mutiny
The BBC was thrown into chaos this week after it suspended Gary Linkeker for his tweets comparing the language around Home Secretary Suella Braverman ’s “cruel” migrant policy with that of 1930s Germany.
Its most popular sport shows were left in tatters when presenters, pundits and commentators downed tools in support of the former striker, causing Saturday night’s Match of the Day to be scaled back into a 20-minute highlights programme.
Last night under-fire director general Tim Davie grovelled to footie fans, heaped praise on the 62-year-old and said he wanted him back on the gig.
He told press: “Success for me is – Gary gets back on air and together we are giving audiences that world-class sports coverage which I’m sorry we haven’t been able to deliver today.”
However, it appears “Garygate” is just the latest in a series of complaints that has left staff convinced the Beeb is sliding to the right politically.
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Gary Lineker was taken off air from the BBC on Saturday (BBC / Pete Dadds)According to The Sunday Times, one BBC editor compared the situation to a mockumentary sitcom, commenting: “We’ve gone the full W1A today.”
It has also been revealed a secret “Right Wing Watch” WhatsApp group has been created to monitor the behaviour and comments of top BBC executives and board members, described by one employee as “active Tory agents”.
These include Davie, who once unsuccessfully stood as a councillor for the Conservatives, John McAndrew, who helped launch GB News before rejoining the BBC as director of news programmes, and board member Sir Robbie Gibb, who worked for the former prime minister Theresa May.
Another insider said the decision to lead with the story about Linneker on the BBC News at Ten on Wednesday night left many staff shocked.
A BBC insider compared the situation to a mockumentary sitcom (AFP via Getty Images)The senior journalist shared: “That horrified people. They told the nation that this was the most important story on a day when the conversation should have been about the government’s immigration policy.”
Hinting at mutiny amongst the ranks, another BBC staffer noted on Slack as the drama developed: “[I’m] looking forward to the next BBC staff survey.”
Yesterday the Mirror exclusively revealed Lineker broke down after telling his sons he had been axed from Match of the Day.
George, the eldest of Lineker’s four sons, alongside his brothers Harry, Tobias and Angus, said his dad initially put on a brave face but later broke down when he learned that Alan Shearer and Ian Wright had all refused to step in, going on strike in support of him.
"Later he told us that he'd been so overwhelmed by the support. He wrote: 'Shearer and Wrighty backing down made me emotional, it means a lot to me.'
"I think he did cry when he found out about that. The support has been a positive thing to come out of this. I've been messaging him today, just saying: 'How are you doing Dad, how are you holding up?' And he replied: 'All good.'"
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The Mirror has reached out to the BBC for comment.
The Mirror has launched a petition to have Gary Lineker reinstated at the BBC and as the host of Match of the Day. Sign it here.
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