The BBC has axed an iconic football show, less than a month after Dan Walker became embroiled in a fierce row with Alex Scott over another of the broadcaster’s shows.
MOTDX was a BBC Three spin-off of the BBC football program Match of the Day, which first aired in 2019.
It was presented by Jermaine Jenas, had a relaxed view of football and was aimed at a younger audience.
It featured exclusive interviews and also delved into topics such as music, fashion and culture.
However, a BBC spokesperson confirmed that the show will no longer go ahead, saying: ‘We have made some changes to our football production this season, which means we will be producing even more digital content for audiences on the BBC Sport platforms.
The BBC has axed MOTDX, which was presented by Jermaine Jenas, after its first broadcast in 2019
Jenas, pictured with other presenters of the show, presented the alternative view of football
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‘While we are proud of MOTDx and would like to thank everyone involved, it will no longer continue.’
At the end of September, Football Focus presenter Alex Scott hit back at her predecessor Dan Walker, saying it is ‘difficult’ to see the iconic BBC show struggling amid a dramatic drop in audience numbers that could see it disappear.
Walker presented the BBC One show for 11 years between 2009 and 2021, before Alex Scott took over from him.
As revealed by Mail Sport, the 49-year-old program has lost more than a third of its early-season viewers in four years.
Walker wrote of X: ‘It’s hard to see Football Focus struggling. I loved it growing up and it was an honor to present it and I still miss it. We put everything into that show every week and worked hard to keep it relevant. I hope it remains part of the TV landscape.’
The former Arsenal and England defender responded by posting a GIF from children’s TV show iCarly, which shows a girl looking at her computer screen before saying ‘Interesting’.
Scott replaced Walker after 12 years presenting Focus in 2021, a change that coincided with a decline in ratings, although the decline had already begun and she is not blamed by her BBC bosses.
In Walker’s final season before being moved, the average weekly audience was 827,000 in August, before dropping to 809,000 in 2021, 599,000 twelve months later and 564,000 this year.
Football Focus presenter hit back at Dan Walker’s claims the show was now ‘struggling’
Walker described the show’s demise on X: ‘I hope it remains part of the TV landscape’
After Scott’s sharp response to
‘It is a saturated market and it is hard work every week. I hope you have a good show today.”
Later in the day, Scott returned to the topic after presenting the show, writing: ‘Thank you to everyone who tuned in to Football Focus, your support for such an iconic show means so much to everyone who works on it.
‘The viewing figures are double what was on TV yesterday. Have a nice Sunday and see you in the Emirates, gunners.’
Then Scott and Walker were seen exchanging heated words at a charity dinner earlier this month.
Eyewitnesses at The Legends of Football dinner at London’s Grosvenor Hotel told Mail Sport that Scott was on his way to meet Walker, which led to a lively conversation that lasted several minutes before they parted amicably with a hug.
The Legends of Football dinner honored Chelsea manager Emma Hayes and former England striker Ian Wright as they raised money for the innovative Nordoff and Robbins charity, which provides music therapy to people of all ages living with autism, dementia and other neurological conditions.