Paul DouglasMar 10, 2023
Pretty much had it with the #BBC after this. Apparently #BBCNews platforming #Transphobia Conspiracy Theories and signal-boosting racists like #NigelFarage is “impartial,” but #GaryLineker - in a personal capacity NOT under the BBC’s control - accurately comparing the Government’s racist anti-immigration messaging to a relevant historical event is “partisan” and unacceptable. Joke of an organisation #UKPolitics #UKRacism #ToriesOut #BBCBias https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64920557
Gary Lineker told to step back from presenting Match of the Day

The BBC took the decision after an impartiality row over his criticism of the government's asylum plans.

BBC News
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 10, 2023
I’ve sent a complaint to #BBC in response to the situation #GaryLineker #BBCNews #UKPolitics #UKRacism #ToriesOut #BBCBias
You can do so here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints
Complaints | Contact the BBC

These pages have information about how to complain to the BBC, with links to the BBC’s Complaints Framework, the BBC’s regulator Ofcom and regular reports about complaints. If you would like to understand how we collect and use personal data, please refer to our privacy notice. Watch our short film to learn more about how the BBC responds to your feedback.

Show threadPaul DouglasMar 10, 2023
On ya, Wrighty! (And Jeff Stelling!) #BBC #GaryLineker #BBCNews #UKPolitics #UKRacism #ToriesOut #BBCBias #IanWright #JeffStelling
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 10, 2023
#AlanShearer has pulled out too, good on him. This is rapidly spiralling out of control for the #BBC and their Tory overlords #BBCBias #GaryLineker #ToriesOut #UKPolitics #UKRacism #BBCNews
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 10, 2023
#AlexScott has joined the ever-widening #BBCMOTD boycott 👑 #BBC #BBCBias #UKPolitics #UKRacism #MOTD #GaryLineker #ToriesOut #BBCNews https://twitter.com/AlexScott/status/1634264832852500488?s=20
Tweet / Twitter

Twitter
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 10, 2023
And reportedly #MarkChapman has turned #BBCMOTD down as well. It seems like the #BBC actually pulled #GaryLineker from the show without bothering to check if they had anyone to replace him - or, indeed, appear on the air at all #BBCBias #UKPolitics #UKRacism #MOTD #ToriesOut #BBCNews
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 10, 2023
Reportedly an avalanche now. Micah Richards, Jermaine Jenas, Alex Jones all joining the boycott. #BBC have turned a non-story into an #Omnishambles #BBCBias #GaryLineker #UKPolitics #UKRacism #MOTD #BBCMOTD #ToriesOut #BBCNews #StreisandEffect https://youtu.be/wWhtcU4-xAM
Duck Sauce - Barbra Streisand (Official Video)

YouTube
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 11, 2023

So, this definitely did not go the way the #BBC expected.

In the end, basically all (or as close as makes no odds) their presenters & pundits declined to participate, the commentators too (forcing them to use the world feed comms) and also the players refused to do #MOTD Interviews.

Instead of sweeping it under the rug, they’ve turned it into a cause célèbre which has very publicly gutted one of their flagship sports shows #GaryLineker #UKPolitics #UKRacism #BBCMOTD #ToriesOut #BBCBias

Show threadPaul Douglas

I’m not really sure why the #BBC thought this would work TBH. Obviously they thought they could just pressure #GaryLineker into cowing to the Tories by keeping him off the air, but even without this fallout he’s a huge star who could simply go elsewhere for more money, it was a dreadful plan.

And now Sky News reporting #FootballFocus won’t air today as the boycott spreads beyond #MOTD.

At risk of a trite football analogy...Own goal, BBC
#BBCMOTD #UKPolitics #UKRacism #BBCBias #ToriesOut

Mar 11, 2023 at 10:04amMammoth
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 11, 2023
#FinalScore presenter #JasonMohammad has pulled out of that show now too. A wildcat strike is now effectively gutting all of the #BBC’s football coverage. They could not possibly have screwed this up worse #MOTD #BBCMOTD #BBCBias #UKPolitics #UKRacism #ToriesOut #GaryLineker
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 11, 2023
The current state of play, prepackaged for you to look well informed this afternoon at the pub #GaryLineker #BBC #BBCBias #Tories #MOTD #BBCMOTD #BBCNews #UKPolitics #ToriesOut
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 11, 2023
Did you think it was all over? GUESS AGAIN! The Athletic is reporting that the #BBC actually does *not* have the rights to take the Premier League’s World Feed commentary, so their highlights-only #MOTD apparently will currently have to air without ANY commentary at all #BBCMOTD #BBCBias #GaryLineker #Tories #BBCNews #UKPolitics #ToriesOut
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 11, 2023
Snivelling coward #RishiSunak has weighed in and would very much appreciate it if you not ask him and his wretched government about this preposterous situation their dreadful policy has created #GaryLineker #UKPolitics #MOTD #BBCMOTD #ToriesOut #BBCBias #BBC #BBCNews #UKRacism https://news.sky.com/story/gary-lineker-bbc-row-pm-hopes-dispute-can-be-resolved-as-he-reiterates-governments-stance-on-stopping-the-boats-12831410
Gary Lineker-BBC row: PM hopes dispute 'can be resolved' as he reiterates government's stance on 'stopping the boats'

Sky
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 11, 2023
Meanwhile, it seems that rumours have started to circulate that the #BBCSport #WildcatStrike may spread to wider #BBC Operations... #GaryLineker #MOTD #BBCMOTD #UKPolitics #UKRacism #BBCBias #ToriesOut #BBCNews
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 11, 2023
Alright, somebody find a lettuce, because #TimDavie has officially started the countdown on his inevitable resignation by insisting he won’t do so #GaryLineker #BBC #BBCBias #UKPolitics #MOTD #BBCMOTD #BBCSport #WildcatStrike #UKRacism #BBCNews #ToriesOut
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 11, 2023
Yeah, #TimDavie is finished. This Times piece about the saga makes for brutal reading and he comes across as a complete tit in it #GaryLineker #BBCBias #BBC #UKPolitics #MOTD #BBCMOTD #BBCSport #WildcatStrike #UKRacism #BBCNews #ToriesOut https://apple.news/AHVGiR4JtTuaWnKBZmVuSng
‘We’ve gone full W1A’: how Gary Lineker sparked 24 hours of BBC chaos — The Times and The Sunday Times

As the BBC collapsed into crisis after suspending Gary Lineker, one staffer said the situation had become “so farcical” that it wouldn’t have been believable as a plotline in the mockumentary about the corporation, W1A. “The writers wouldn’t have dared do this — it’s too insane and incompetent,” he said. Tim Davie, the director-general, had hoped his decision on Friday would draw a line under the criticism sparked by Lineker’s tweets about asylum seekers; instead, it unleashed 24 hours of chaos

Show threadPaul DouglasMar 12, 2023
So where are we this morning? The #BBCSport #WildcatStrike continues unabated. The #BBC has had to announce that #MOTD2 and their live #WSL coverage will be “much reduced” today - MOTD2 presumably much like #MOTD last night and the WSL match sans presentation. #TimDavie looking very exposed as the one solely responsible for blowing this up into one of the biggest fiascos the BBC has ever endured #BBCMOTD #GaryLineker #BBCBias #UKPolitics #UKRacism #ToriesOut #BBCNews
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 12, 2023
I feel like the #BBC should be thanking their lucky stars #GaryLineker, #AlanShearer and #IanWright didn’t drop a #Football #Podcast episode last night #BBCSport #MOTD #BBCMOTD #WildcatStrike #BBCBias #UKPolitics #UKRacism #ToriesOut #BBCNews
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 13, 2023
Looks like the #GaryLineker #MOTD saga is going to end with abject humiliation for the #BBC. Hard to see how #TimeDavie’s position can be seen as anything other than untenable after this fiasco #BBCMOTD #BBCBias #BBCSport #WildcatStrike #UKPolitics #UKracism #ToriesOut #BBCNews
Show threadNot My JobMar 11, 2023
@TVPaulD Thanks for this. Interesting reading!
Show threadApplemaskMar 11, 2023
@TVPaulD He was the first one to bring it up, that's a big hint
Show threadSnugMar 11, 2023
@TVPaulD Schedules have just updated and Football Focus is replaced with a re-run of Bargain Hunt, so it seems they're saving Dad's Army for the Final Score slot.
Show threadDopperMar 11, 2023
@TVPaulD Tim Davie has really really screwed this one up, almost feel sorry for him .. almost. Totally misread the situation and atmosphere
Show threadTim Ward ⭐🇪🇺🔶 #FBPEMar 11, 2023
@TVPaulD It's only "worse" if you don't take the view that this is all part of the Tories' strategy to dismantle the BBC. If the Tories currently running the BBC have been put in post with the objective of closing it down then they're not "screwing up", they're "delivering".
Show threadPaul DouglasMar 11, 2023
@TimWardCam I don’t agree. That view is convenient, but in my view misguided. This was not “the plan.” They are not that smart and not that type of dumb. The Tories wanted Lineker silenced. This ongoing PR disaster is not in their interests at all, it already knocked Sunak’s photo op with Macron off the front pages. It doesn’t meaningfully further the Tories interest in dismantling the BBC because it exposes the ways in which they have already succeeded in defanging it.
Show threadTim Ward ⭐🇪🇺🔶 #FBPEMar 11, 2023

@TVPaulD There are apparently screenshots on SM of people cancelling their TV licence fee direct debits. That, surely, *does* contribute to the Tory agenda of dismantling the BBC.

I don't suppose it'll be many people, though, compared to those who are stopping paying the licence fee because they're now watching streaming services instead.

Show threadPaul DouglasMar 11, 2023
@TimWardCam A small amount, sure, but that would still constitute the BBC having screwed up since it’s their action which prompted it and presumably the BBC itself is not seeking to be destroyed. And the Tories certainly did not lean on the BBC to pull Lineker to “trick” people on the left into stopping paying the Licence Fee, they did it to shut him up. Even if that does very slightly aid their goal of dismantling the BBC, it still blew up in their faces and is a net loss in their account
Show threadTim Ward ⭐🇪🇺🔶 #FBPEMar 11, 2023
@TVPaulD I am however wondering to what extent "the BBC itself" is actually a thing distinct from "the current Tory management at the BBC".