Because the second item on the agenda was the news that, from next May, a 63-year-old presenter would no longer be at the helm of a popular weekly television show.
A full six minutes of reporting and analysis were devoted to the fact that Gary Lineker was finishing his 25-year stint on Match of the Day. He’s not even leaving the BBC: he will front live football coverage until the final of the World Cup in 2026. But, still, a bloke’s employment position was reckoned the second most important international news story of the day.
Which, if nothing else, provides conclusive proof that Lineker has become one of those rare figures in broadcasting: he is way bigger than the show he presents.
Indeed, after he comprehensively outflanked the BBC’s director general last March, when his disciplinary suspension for antigovernment social media posts was speedily reversed following the entire football reporting team withdrawing their labour in solidarity, there is an argument that he is bigger than the corporation itself.
Everything about him – from the scale of his salary (in its most recent annual report, the BBC said Lineker earns between £1,350,000 and £1,354,999) through the success of his own broadcasting company, to his political opinions – has become a staple of the news cycle. For some fulminating figures on the right, he has been magnified into the very epitome of the overpaid woke media establishment.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Fierce rivalry in best British flyweight fight for decades
This time last year, Sunny Edwards was on his way to the USA for a unification world title fight, and Galal Yafai was a five-fight novice.
Wiegman faces twin issues in tactical battle with Hayes
Sarina Wiegman had already highlighted where England need to improve long before Emma Hayes and the United States landed in London ahead of today's marquee clash at Wembley.
Crisis at City has shades of Mourinho's Bridge too far
For all the comments on Pep Guardiola's scratches, some senior figures in football were a bit shocked by the image.
Our favourite brands are at risk from changing demand
Constantly evolving consumer habits are threatening even the biggest names - factor in a competitive marketplace and rising overheads, and they're goners, says Chris Blackhurst
Insurgents fighting Assad's Syrian regime enter Aleppo
Surprise offensive is first time city is attacked since 2016
Macron praises those who helped rebuild Notre-Dame
President visits cathedral as it prepares to reopen next week
Three main Irish parties set for election photo finish
Sinn Fein, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are virtually neck-and-neck in terms of first preference votes in the Irish general election, according to an exit poll last night.
Ukraine could cede land for peace deal, says Zelensky
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested he would temporarily cede Ukrainian territory to Russia in exchange for joining Nato.
Russia suffers record 2,000 losses in one day, says Kyiv
Claims of unprecedented military casualties for Moscow come as Putin’s forces make advances in eastern Ukraine
Police name mother killed in hit-and-run e-bike crash
A young mother who was killed after she was knocked off an ebike in a hit-and-run crash has been named.
