Great Scott, has Alex torpedoed Football Focus?

This is a bit niche but Football Focus, the BBC’s Saturday lunchtime football show, is in the news.

According to the Daily Mail:

The future of Football Focus is the subject of urgent talks at the BBC due to a dramatic drop in viewing figures …

The most dramatic fall in viewing figures coincides with Alex Scott replacing Dan Walker as Focus’ main presenter in 2021.

In Walker’s last season before he was moved on the average weekly August audience was 827,000, before dropping to 809,000 in 2021, 599,000 12 months later and 564,000 this year.

Now, I’ve nothing against Alex Scott, a former footballer, but the story interests me because I just happened to mention the programme in a post about Gary Lineker’s spat with the BBC that led to BBC staff walking out in support of their outspoken, overpaid colleague:

Announcing her decision not to present Football Focus today, Alex Scott was reported to have referred to it as "my show".

I'm sorry, it's not your show. I remember Football Focus when it was presented by the late, great Sam Leitch.

A great big tubby man, no-one could confuse Leitch for a footballer, not even a retired one. He was a journalist with a deep knowledge of the game who everyone respected.

Today the studios are crammed with former footballers, male and female, some more articulate than others, who are recruited as pundits or co-commentators with a handful fast tracked to the role of presenter (sometimes too soon, if you ask me, before they have enough experience).

As for Football Focus, there have been many, many presenters before Alex Scott and, unless she has just torpedoed the programme, she won't be the last.

Oops, I may have spoken too soon.