Gary Lineker and Graeme Souness have reunited in London to launch new ITV celebrity gameshow The Box despite past clashes over political opinions.
Speaking at the launch event in London ahead of the show's debut on September 5, former Liverpool midfielder Souness admitted he wanted to "smash Lineker a few times" during filming.
Lineker, who watched ten celebrity contestants compete in physical, mental, and logical challenges, responded to the dig by calling it "revenge for that tackle at Anfield in 1981." Souness then quipped back: "Is it a bit too late to apologise?"
Lineker, a former England striker turned long-time sports presenter, and Souness, a former Scotland international midfielder who won multiple league titles with Liverpool, were former rivals on the pitch before becoming high-profile television pundits.
Past clashes over BBC impartiality
The pair previously clashed three years ago after Souness publicly criticized Lineker for refusing to apologize over social media posts regarding the British government's bill on illegal migrants. Lineker was briefly suspended by the BBC in March 2023 over the comments.
The suspension triggered a major fallout at the broadcaster, with fellow Match of the Day presenters Ian Wright and Alan Shearer boycotting the programme in support before Lineker was reinstated. However, Souness argued that BBC employees must keep their political views private.
Speaking on William Hill's Up Front with Simon Jordan podcast at the time, Souness said: "It wasn't Gary Lineker's first time upsetting people, and I don't think he should've said what he did because when you take the BBC's money you have to be very careful with what you say politically. Freedom of speech is something that doesn't apply when you work for the BBC, I think you have to be very careful."
Inside the new celebrity gameshow
The Box features ten celebrity contestants attempting unpredictable physical, mental, and logical challenges with little to no prior instruction. Touted as a replacement for Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, each episode concludes with "The Duel", an elimination showdown where two players face off.
The series marks Lineker's first time hosting a major entertainment format. Asked about hosting the show, Lineker said: "It's different - it's something I've never done before, which appealed to me, alongside the unique nature of the concept."
Contestants on the show shared their experiences working with Lineker during production. Love Island star Shakira Khan revealed that producers had to keep Lineker away from contestants because of his poker face, adding that he watched tests earlier and was "really encouraging."
JB Gill, a singer with boyband JLS, added that Lineker was not allowed to socialize with contestants off camera due to his advance knowledge of the show. Comedian Ellie Taylor also praised his approach, saying: "We saw him around challenges. He was great, he was lovely and supportive. He really enjoyed the process and was invested in the show. And I think having that sort of energy at the top of the show sort of trickled down to the rest of us. He was fab."
Lineker's transition to ITV
Lineker signed a major deal with ITV after leaving the BBC last year following a controversy over an anti-Semitism row. The former Match of the Day presenter was axed after sharing a pro-Palestine Instagram video that featured a rat emoji, leading critics to accuse him of sharing an anti-Semitic slur.
Lineker later apologized unreservedly for his actions, stating he was unaware of the symbol's meaning and adding: "I would never consciously repost anything anti-Semitic - it goes against everything I stand for." He noted that stepping down from his role at the BBC, where he was previously the broadcaster's highest paid star, was "the responsible course of action."
The Box begins on Saturday, September 5 on ITV1 and ITVX.
