The BBC should split from ‘insolent’ star Gary Lineker, a former top executive at the corporation suggests

A former top BBC executive has suggested the corporation needs to go separate ways with ‘insolent’ star Gary Lineker.

Danny Cohen, who was the former director of television at the BBC, said it was ‘offensive and embarrassing’ to see the star ‘running rings’ around the broadcaster.

He said the BBC had ‘nothing to fear’ in ‘moving on’ from the presenter.

Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Mr Cohen claimed the corporation would cope without the presenter as people tuned in for the actual football games rather than the analysis on Match of the Day.

He said that without taking any action the corporation’s bosses looked ‘ever weaker’.

His comments come after a Tory MP reported Mr Lineker to the BBC after the presenter launched a series of taunts against Conservative politicians.

A former top BBC executive has suggested the corporation needs to go separate ways with ‘insolent’ star Gary Lineker (pictured)

Danny Cohen (pictured), who was the former director of television at the BBC, said it was ‘offensive and embarrassing’ to see the star ‘running rings’ around the broadcaster

The presenter first sparked a BBC impartiality row in March by comparing language used in the Government’s migrant crackdown to 1930s Germany.

Jonathan Gullis wrote to director-general Tim Davie with concerns that Lineker had ‘potentially’ broken the corporation’s new social media guidelines.

In his piece for The Telegraph, Mr Cohen said Mr Davie should look at the way former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson dealt with players.

READ MORE: BBC bosses ‘talk to Gary Lineker’ after outspoken Match of the Day star slammed the Government’s Rwanda plan then ridiculed Tories who criticised him for ‘flouting impartiality rules’ – as staff blast ‘not fit for purpose’ social media guidelines

He wrote: ‘If there were any signs that a player believed he was bigger than the club, Ferguson would quickly show him the door, even when it came to players of the world-class quality of David Beckham and Roy Keane.’

Mr Cohen added: ‘At the moment, Mr Lineker is behaving as if he is much bigger than his club – the BBC – with the insolent inference that there is nothing that his manager – the director-general – can or will do to stop him.’

He said he felt Lineker’s social media posts which targeted defence secretary Grant Shapps, Jonathan Gullis and Tory Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson were like ‘playground’ insults and that he felt they were a breach of the guidelines.

In the piece he went on: ‘If the BBC does nothing about it, its management looks ever weaker and ever less in control of the social media output of the people who represent it in the eyes of the public.’ 

He also pointed to the way Lineker had shared an interview between controversial journalist Owen Jones and an academic who accused Israel of genocide.

The BBC put out a statement earlier in the week about Lineker’s social media posts.

A spokesman said: ‘We aren’t going to comment on individuals or indeed individual tweets.

‘While the guidance does allow people to talk about issues that matter to them, it is also clear that individuals should be civil and not call into question anyone’s character. We discuss issues that arise with presenters as necessary.’

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