BBC axes Football Focus after 52 years - and reveals what will replace it

The BBC's iconic Football Focus show has been axed after 52 years.

Match of the Day said in a post on social media that an "incredible 52-year journey comes to an end".

"Following extensive consideration, BBC Sport has made the difficult decision to say goodbye to Football Focus at the end of this season," the BBC said in a statement.

Football Focus has been axed as "changing audience behaviours mean fans are now increasingly consuming football content in different ways, and we need to respond appropriately as we face difficult decisions around how the licence fee is spent", it added.

It comes after the BBC announced last week that it needed to make £500m worth of savings over the next two years.

Alex Kay-Jelski, head of BBC Sport, said: "Football Focus has been a hugely important programme in the history of BBC Sport, and has played a key role in telling the stories of the game for generations of viewers.

"This decision was made before last week's wider BBC savings announcement, reflecting the continued shift in how audiences engage with football and our commitment to evolving how we deliver content to reach fans wherever they are."

Alex Scott has presented the Saturday lunchtime programme, which was first broadcast in 1974, for the past five years.

Mr Kay-Jelski said Scott "will remain at the heart of our sports output across both the Men's World Cup this year and the Women's World Cup in 2027, as well as continuing her lead role on the Women's Super League and BBC Sport Personality of the Year".

Former England and Arsenal striker Scott said she was proud to have been associated with the show - but also revealed she had been due to leave the programme this year anyway.

She wrote on Instagram: "52 years of an iconic football show. It's a show that I'll forever be honoured to be associated with and one that has made me grow as a presenter in a way I'll always look back on with pride.

"Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey, from the bottom of my heart it means so much. Time to get excited for big summer of sport ahead."

Scott added: "I always knew that this would be my last season on the show, which the BBC were aware of also. My intention was to move quietly into the next chapter, but here we are."

Former Football Focus presenter Dan Walker felt it was "disappointing" there was no longer to be a space in football's "constantly changing" landscape for a show which has "meant so much to so many people for so many years".

Walker, who hosted the show for 12 years, wrote on X: "Really sad to hear about the end of Football Focus. I loved that show growing up.

"I used to watch it every week with my dad and I remember how proud he was when I got the job. It was such a privilege to sit in the chair for 12 years, working with an amazing team on and off air and forming so many lasting friendships.

"Saturdays were always special. The football landscape is constantly changing and it's disappointing that there isn't space for a show that has meant so much to so many people for so many years."

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The BBC said The Football Interview would move into the Saturday 12.45pm slot from next season.

This season, the programme has featured interviews with Bukayo Saka, Emma Hayes, Bernardo Silva, Hugo Ekitike and Michael Carrick.

(c) Sky News 2026: BBC axes Football Focus after 52 years - and reveals what will replace it