BBC pundit Chris Sutton joked suggestively about his colleagues Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates on live radio‚ amid reports that the Match of the Day co-hosts are dating. Cates‚ 51‚ and Chapman‚ 52‚ have been stars of the BBC show's three-person presenter panel alongside Gabby Logan since the start of last season following Gary Lineker's departure. The pair have become public figures on our TV screens over recent years - but have grown close in private‚ with reports emerging on Sunday that the BBC stars have been dating.

Match of the Day may have been running since 1964‚ but news broke of a first on the show on Sunday when it was reported that co-hosts Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman have started dating. Cates‚ 51‚ and Chapman‚ 52‚ have been stars of the BBC show's three-person presenter panel alongside Gabby Logan since the start of last season following Gary Lineker's departure. The pair have become public figures on our TV screens over recent years - but have now grown close in private‚ much to the apparent disgruntlement of Chapman's ex-partner. On salaries of £335‚000-£340‚000 and £215‚000-£220‚000 per year respectively‚ Chapman and Cates are two of the BBC's highest-paid employees.

The Manchester United icon has been involved in football for more than 20 years now. He started off as a teenager with high hopes at Everton‚ and is now one of the faces of football analysis on the tele. After initially enduring some growing pains in his punditry career‚ the 40-year-old came into his own over the World Cup‚ and is now one of BBC's top dogs on Match of the Day and has family documentary - The Real Rooneys - with wife Coleen and his family.

Before the action‚ we had that lovely old intro‚ old clips‚ old voices‚ old logos‚ old Kenneth Wolstenholme telling us from August 1964: 'Welcome to Match of the Day.' Ah‚ familiarity‚ our old friend. Despite an addiction to trying to fix what is not broken‚ the BBC begin each and every MOTD by celebrating how long this staple of Saturday nights has been on our screens‚ since a time when Wolstenholme was being beamed to us in black and white.

Alan Shearer has taken aim at Manchester United following their 'dreadful' performance at Hull City ‚ with the Match of the Day pundit accusing Michael Carrick's side of lacking fitness. The Red Devils wilted at newly-promoted Hull on Saturday‚ with goals from Semi Ajeyi and Nobel Mendy handing the newcomers a 2-0 victory. The manner of United's defeat has caused alarm among supporters and pundits‚ with Shearer offering a withering verdict on the BBC's flagship football show on Saturday night.

Frank‚ Young and more join MOTD as BBC launches four new YouTube shows

Play BBC Sport's new Match of the Day Predictor game

Former England and Spurs star Jenas‚ 43‚ was one of the BBC's rising stars before he was axed from his role on Match of the Day in August 2024 following the discovery of inappropriate messages sent to two women. Jenas had served as a regular presenter on The One Show and 5Live before his wife‚ Ellie Penfold‚ confirmed she had split from the former footballer in the wake of the scandal - having been together for 16 years.

LINEKER GETS ONE OVER ON BEEB! - Axed MOTD host Lineker to make shock ITV appearance as World Cup pundit in another major blow for BBC

Former England striker and long-term broadcaster Lineker‚ 65‚ worked as the BBC's chief anchor for football coverage‚ including fronting Match of the Day‚ for 26 years. He left last May over his Instagram post about Zionism featuring a rat that ignited an antisemitism row. He apologised‚ admitted his exit was 'the responsible course of action' and left without a payoff from his £1.4million-a-year salary. Lineker has been in the United States during the World Cup to host his 'The Rest is Football' podcast‚ which was bough by Netflix for £14m for the tournament.

Match of the Day's triple threat and an unlikely breakout

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Match of the Day's Alan Hansen disappeared from TV as crippling condition took hold

Gary Lineker's new swipe at BBC‚ why he left MOTD and upcoming TV role

Daniel Jarvis‚ 37‚ better known as 'Jarvo69' on social media‚ sent BBC Match of the Day into meltdown when he smuggled a phone on set that played sex noises live on air. He has also managed to invade countless sporting arenas in recent years‚ infiltrating Twickenham‚ the Oval and Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Keys claims Match of the Day will be next as BBC axe Football Focus

Richard Keys warns MOTD will be next after Football Focus axed

Rooney 'ready to ditch Match of the Day' after just one season despite huge contract

Shearer and Rooney blown away after revealing Chelsea stat on Match of the Day

Who'd play Rooney in MOTD movie? Man Utd legend picks Hollywood icon

On Match of the Day the wonderfully enthusiastic Jonathan Pearce declared the FA Cup as the greatest cup competition in the world and after weekends like this one‚ it feels as though he is right. In keeping with the story of this season's cup‚ intrigue‚ upset‚ controversy and‚ most importantly‚ excitement all featured as the grand old competition showed the best of itself at places like Vale Park‚ Field Mill‚ the Racecourse Ground and Craven Cottage. The performance of the last sixteen came from Port Vale who‚ after knocking out Sunderland‚ have now won more cup games this season - seven - than they have in League One - six - where they currently sit bottom. But Mansfield and Wrexham certainly ran them close.

Watch Match of the Day: Newcastle beat Man Utd & Arsenal extend lead over Man City

Gary Lineker's net worth compared to MOTD colleague Alan Shearer ahead of Match of the Day exit

Match of the Day viewing figures show TV audience down 10% but iPlayer views surge

Match of the Day bosses hail 'fantastic success' despite losing 10% of audience

Match of the Day loses 10 per cent of audience but BBC bosses hail "fantastic success"

Chelsea adopt Match of the Day tactic to stop Arsenal set-piece threat

Gabby Logan set for Match of the Day return after dad's tragic death led to live TV exit

Match of the Day scores viewing figures success with BBC's new digital strategy

Enzo Le Fee's response after Alan Shearer hits out at 'lazy' Sunderland performance

Logan admits fears over TV return after devastating call during Match of the Day

Wayne Rooney opens up on medical condition that makes him 'struggle' during punditry

Rooney was on the Match of the Day panel on Saturday night‚ being jokingly introduced by host Mark Chapman as 'John Rooney's brother'. His younger brother John has enjoyed his moment of fame after masterminding minnows Macclesfield's shock FA Cup win against Crystal Palace earlier this month.

Next Man United manager's target shared on Match of the Day - 'Two steps forwards‚ one step back'

Match of the Day pundits lavish praise on Aston Villa leader who helped 'steal the show' at Spurs

Richard Keys re-opened a long-running feud with Gabby Logan by sharing a seemingly thinly-veiled dig towards the Match of the Day presenter in a tribute to her late father Terry Yorath. Leeds United and Wales legend Yorath's death was announced on Thursday after a short illness‚ with Logan‚ 52‚ rushing to his side the night before as she left Match of the Day mid-broadcast.

Gabby Logan details final moments with dad Terry Yorath after leaving Match of the Day

Leeds and Wales legend Terry Yorath's death was announced on Thursday after a short illness‚ with daughter Gabby Logan rushing to his side on Wednesday night as she left Match of the Day mid-broadcast. Keys and Logan have been butting heads for a number of years‚ with the latter‚ who currently works for the likes of BBC Sport and Prime Video‚ making a series of accusations against the former Sky Sports host in 2022. Keys‚ 68‚ - who now works alongside his broadcast partner Andy Gray on beIN Sports in the Middle East - vowed to take legal action against Logan after her claims in her memoirs.

Logan's father passes away after mid-show MOTD departure

Ex-Tottenham star Terry Yorath dies as daughter Gabby Logan forced to leave MOTD mid-show

Football icon Terry Yorath dies aged 75 after daughter Gabby Logan forced off MOTD

BREAKING: Wales legend Terry Yorath dies aged 75 after daughter Gabby forced to leave MOTD show

Leeds icon Terry Yorath dies at 75 as daughter Gabby Logan forced to leave MOTD

Gabby Logan's dad Terry Yorath dies as she's forced to leave Match of the Day

Gabby Logan leaves Match of the Day during middle of the show amid emergency

Gabby Logan leaves Match of the Day mid-show in emergency as BBC replace host

Gabby Logan forced to leave Match of the Day early after emergency

Gabby Logan leaves BBC Match of the Day mid-show after family emergency forces early exit

Logan forced to leave Match of the Day mid-show due to family emergency

Today‚ for a growing generation of sports fans‚ the Saturday-night ritual no longer involves the sofa‚ a TV remote and a familiar theme tune. Highlights are now consumed in fragments‚ clipped for YouTube‚ debated on TikTok and bellowed out by various podcasters and streamers. The likes of Mark Goldbridge and Angry Ginge now shape the conversation for millions of younger viewers‚ who would rather digest sports content through the accessible‚ quick-hit medium of social media rather than traditional TV screens. It has been well documented how considerably flagship football shows such as Match of the Day‚ Football Focus and Soccer AM have suffered over the past 15 years in terms of viewership - and this trajectory has been felt across sports broadcasting as a whole.

Shearer's daughters have famous fiancés but key difference to MOTD pundit's wife

Arsenal's 'only problem' noted on Match of the Day as Mikel Arteta warned over repeat

Arsenal injuries statement on Match of the Day is telling as Gunners now face 'big miss'

BBC Match of the Day host's brutal take ahead of 2026 World Cup draw - 'It's s***'

COINING IT IN! Lineker profits from BBC snub with multi-million pound Netflix World Cup show alongside former MOTD pals Shearer and Richards

KANE vs LINEKER: Ex-MOTD host gives his take who was the better England striker but makes telling point

Enzo Le Fee masterclass prompts clear response as Sunderland agreement reached on MOTD

I set tongues wagging in this week's My Premier League Weekend column‚ in which I stated that Wayne Rooney does not make the top five current pundits on Match of the Day. The truth is‚ Rooney is struggling on the BBC 's flagship football programme. The beeb are so determined that their big appointment should work that they have been putting occasional extra training into Rooney but‚ despite the excellence of his weekly podcast‚ the former England captain continues to look nervous and inhibited on a Saturday night.

Glaring Match of the Day omission as BBC viewers miss huge Newcastle United moment

'I found out I'd been sacked live on Match of the Day - I couldn't believe it'

Lineker in talks with Netflix over new role after MOTD exit

BBC MOTD mics left on by mistake as surprised viewers spot strange Wayne Rooney comment

Watch Champions League MOTD as Newcastle and Man City win‚ plus Barca draw thriller

Man City icon Joe Hart reveals BBC Match of the Day habit - 'It took me a while to do it'

Gabby Logan 'thought it was all over' as MOTD presenter shares emotional message

Gary Lineker's brutal advice to Micah Richards after Match of the Day star's quit decision

'Thank god that's done' - Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman on replacing Gary Lineker on MOTD

Gary Lineker's Match of the Day replacements speak out about replacing him on BBC

Match of the Day host sends brutal warning ahead of Liverpool vs Man Utd - 'The worst'

BBC hit by new Match of the Day blow after Gary Lineker exit

BBC release statement as Match of the Day figures emerge after Gary Lineker's bitter exit

Match of the Day ratings ‘PLUMMET' (except they really haven't)

Match of the Day 'viewing figures PLUMMET' after Gary Lineker's £1.35m-a-year BBC contract was axed

BBC Match of the Day pundit Ashley Williams alleged to have threatened official in kids' football match

Gary Lineker new TV role details and contestants confirmed after Match of the Day exit

Liverpool's 'really good sign' as Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike claim made on Match of the Day

‘It was only when I got home and watched Match of the Day back with my family that I thought‚ “Oh my God‚ that's me scoring at Old Trafford”' Saido Berahino on the goal that announced his arrival

Major BBC Match of the Day pundit loses £5m fortune as he admits 'shame'

Ex-Liverpool star & MOTD pundit 'lost £5m through financial abuse'

Match of the Day pundit loses £5MILLION from 'financial abuse' and opens up on 'shame and embarrassment'

Gary Lineker's net worth compared to MOTD colleague Alan Shearer ahead of Match of the Day exit

'I'm sorry Villa fans!' - Lineker urges Spurs to buy Rogers

Shearer on MOTD post-Lineker: 'The show is bigger than any individual'

Gabby Logan makes Match of the Day admission as heart beating out of shirt

Smiling Kelly Cates makes lighthearted joke about being the third choice Match of the Day presenter as she hosts BBC show for the first time

I watched 10 live football matches on TV (and MOTD) as Premier League returned

Ex-Match of the Day host Gary Lineker kicks off at TV change he fumes is 'driving me crazy'

Lineker takes swipe as he delivers Match of the Day verdict

Sky Sports make Lineker and Match of the Day gaffe as BBC forced to intervene

Bitter Gary Lineker takes aim at the BBC boss who sacked him in his review of first Match of the Day since he got the boot from £1.35m-a-year contract

Lineker sends seven-word message to BBC chief after what he saw on Match of the Day

Alan Shearer responds after being called out for Sunderland role on Match of the Day

Liverpool star right at the centre of Alan Shearer's Match of the Day blunder

Gary Lineker reacts to new-look Match of the Day after legendary presenter's controversial exit

Wayne Rooney's 'dreadful' punditry on Match of the Day slammed as f*****g painful'

Shearer left with egg on his face after major Match of the Day blunder

'Doesn't hold a grudge' - Lineker shows support for Match Of The Day

Alan Shearer shows true colours with light-hearted Sunderland response on BBC Match of the Day

Match of the Day suffers major blunder as Alan Shearer blasts Milos Kerkez for Bournemouth goal - despite Liverpool left back...

Gary Lineker's Match of the Day verdict as ex-host shows his true class