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  "path": "/2026/04/23/bbc-axes-iconic-football-focus-52-years-28093485/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-23T17:30:23.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "BBC",
    "Premier League",
    "Arsenal",
    "Alex Scott",
    "Dan Walker",
    "Sign up to our daily football newsletter",
    "savings",
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    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
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  "textContent": "Alex Scott will present the final Football Focus show at the end of the season (BBC)\n\nThe BBC has scrapped Football Focus after 52 years on television.\n\nThe Saturday lunchtime show, first broadcast in 1974 with Bob Wilson as host, provides interviews, analysis and stories ahead of the weekend’s football fixtures.\n\nThe show is currently hosted by former Arsenal and England defender Alex Scott, who took over from Dan Walker in 2021.\n\nHowever, the BBC has pointed out that television viewing figures have gradually declined since 2018, with audiences turning more to digital platforms to get their pre-match content.\n\nThe show has suffered a drastic drop in viewing figures in recent years, falling from 957,000 in 2019-20 to 687,000 three years later. Last season had a minor upturn with 739,000.\n\nBob Wilson presented Football Focus for 20 years (BBC)\n\nThe BBC said in a statement that ‘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’.\n\n##  Get personalised football updates every day\n\nSign up to our daily football newsletter and choose your team to get the latest news, rumours and more about your favourite team.\n\nAlex Kay-Jelski, director 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.\n\n##  Football Focus presenter history\n\nDan Walker presented Football Focus for 12 years (BBC)\n\nBob Wilson – 1974 to 1994\nSteve Rider – 1994 to 1996\nGary Lineker – 1996 to 1999\nRay Stubbs – 1999 to 2004\nManish Bhasin – 2004 to 2009\nDan Walker – 2009 to 2021\nAlex Scott – 2021-present\n\n‘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.’\n\nThe 12.45pm slot on BBC1 on Saturday will be taken next season by The Football Interview show, where presenter Kelly Somers will talk to top names within football.\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "BBC axes iconic Football Focus after 52 years"
}