Kelly Cates: Lying to friends about Match Of The Day role was ‘horrendous’

Kelly Cates has said it was “horrendous” having to lie to friends before her new role hosting Match Of The Day was confirmed.

It was announced on Wednesday that Sky Sports presenter Cates, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman will be the new presenters of the BBC’s flagship football show from next season.

The news came following weeks of speculation about who would take over from Gary Lineker after he said last year that he was stepping down.

Speaking to Chapman on his Global Player podcast The Sports Agents, Cates said: “I have learned about myself (that) I could never have a second life.

“I could never be – I mean, it was never on the cards for me – but I could never be, for example, a spy. That was never going to be an option for me.”

The 49-year-old added: “I’ve just been barefaced lying to friends, it’s been horrendous.”

Cates, the daughter of former Scotland and Liverpool footballer Sir Kenny Dalglish, said she just told her mother about the new role at first as she “didn’t want extra noise” around her.

“I just wanted it to be very quiet outside of that conversation. So yeah, I just told my mum for a while,” she added.

She has been a presenter with Sky Sports since rejoining the broadcaster in 2016, fronting coverage of the Premier League.

Cates, who will continue her role with Sky Sports, also hosts BBC Radio 5 Live’s Tuesday night sports coverage.

Chapman said keeping the information under wraps was not difficult as he does not “tend to talk to people”.

The 51-year-old has been broadcasting for more than 25 years and presents the BBC’s Match Of The Day 2 show on Sundays, covering action from the Premier League.

He said he is “excited” about the new role but is finding it “weird” as he has been the main host for the Sunday edition of the show for many years.

Chapman added there are “much more important things” going on in the world but he was honoured to be part of the new line-up.

“It has a part in people’s lives, and therefore it is an honour to be doing it,” he said.

“The other side of it is we’re presenting a football show, but it is an honour.”

Cates agreed with Chapman, revealing she was on a call with the director of BBC Sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, when the news was made official, but she did not realise others were present.

“I just kept saying to him, ‘I’m so excited, I’m so excited!’ And then I realised that he had me on speaker, and several really quite important people where listening to me sounding like a 13-year-old,” she said.

Cates stepped in for Thursday’s edition of The Sports Agents as Logan, who usually co-hosts with Chapman, was absent this week.

She sent the pair a voice note, which was played during the show, and saw her exclaim “the big news is out”.

The 51-year-old said: “Starting in the autumn, it’ll be down to us three to sit in that hot seat over the weekend.

“And I am absolutely thrilled. I couldn’t wish to share those duties with two more brilliant broadcasters, and I’m very excited about a show that I’ve grown up watching and knowing, and it’s been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I’m sure your lives as well.

“What a responsibility, but what a joy as well. And I think our viewers can rest assured that we love it as much as they do.”

Former gymnast Logan, became one of the first female sports anchors to break into terrestrial television and has covered several Olympic Games, the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games during her time at the BBC.

She has presented Match Of The Day in Lineker’s absence on many occasions, and also fronted the BBC’s coverage as the Lionesses stormed to glory in the Women’s Euros in 2023.

The Match Of The Day hosting role will be shared between the three presenters for the first time, with the trio splitting duties on Saturday’s main show, Match Of The Day 2 on Sundays and the latest addition to the football highlights schedule – Match Of The Day: Champions League – on Wednesdays.

They are the sixth set of main presenters for the weekly football highlights programme which first aired in 1964.

The trio will be joined by pundits and presenters including former England players Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and Alex Scott, as well as Jason Mohammad, Kelly Somers, John Murray and Steve Crossman.

Former England striker Lineker, who has presented Match Of The Day since 1999, will continue to front the BBC’s FA Cup coverage for the 2025-26 campaign and the 2026 men’s World Cup.

The Sports Agents is available to listen to on Global Player or on podcast streaming services.