Gary Lineker lining up top chef for brand-new food show
Former Match of the Day host Gary Lineker's production company Goalhanger is considering a brand-new food show, which could rival the BBC's MasterChef, and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is said to be wanted to host the programme.
Gary Lineker's production company Goalhanger is considering a brand-new food show - and he wants to sign Jamie Oliver to host the programme.
The former Match of the Day host could soon be taking on BBC hit MasterChef with his own culinary creation, as part of a lifelong dream.
A source told The Sun: "Since lockdown Gary has become a massive foodie, and is regularly in the kitchen conjuring up feasts for friends and family.
"Doing a food show has long been his dream, but he didn’t know if he could.
"Last week the board held meetings to discuss new formats, and a brilliant new cookery show was front and centre."
While Jamie is said to be one of the main contenders to present the programme, Goalhanger are also said to have other names in the frame.
The source added: "A few names, including Jamie’s, were thrown around, and an ad has now gone up looking for an experienced producer.
"Food content is absolutely massive on TikTok and Instagram, and this would be a natural extension of this - giving people what they want in a new, longer-form way, but with brilliant, hugely clippable moments being pushed online. Everyone is really excited."
However, an insider admitted Jamie has an "incredibly busy schedule", meaning he might not be free to front the new project.
Goalhanger also produces Gary's The Rest Is Football show, which began life as a podcast before moving to streaming giant Netflix for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a 40-episode run.
Gary co-hosts the show alongside fellow football pundits Micah Richards, 38, and Alan Shearer, 55, and it will return to Netflix for the new Premier League season.
In a recent statement, Lineker said: "We had a brilliant time making the show during the World Cup, and the response was incredible, so it’s great to be back on Netflix every week throughout the Premier League season.
"The Rest Is Football podcast will continue across the week too, while the Netflix show gives us another chance to get stuck into the biggest stories.
"Expect plenty of opinions, plenty of laughs and, with Alan and Micah involved, probably a few arguments as well."
Goalhanger Podcasts, which was co-founded by Lineker in 2014 and is also behind the likes of The Rest Is History, The Rest is Entertainment and The Rest of Politics, will continue to produce the show.
Retired footballer Lineker previously fronted BBC's Match of the Day for more than 25 years.
He left the BBC earlier this year after a social media post caused controversy, prompting him to step down from all presenting duties in May.
Lineker shared a post about Zionism that featured an illustration of a rat, which has historically been used as an antisemitic insult.
The former sports star subsequently issued an apology and announced that he was leaving his role at the BBC.
