Match of the Day delayed as fans left 'sickened' by late BBC schedule change

Match of the Day viewers were met with a nasty surprise upon flicking to BBC One only to find a late broadcast of News at Ten tonight (Saturday). The last evening of the BBC Proms ran late, forcing the broadcaster to abandon their original schedule and move their flagship football highlights programme into a later slot.

Another bumper day of Premier League action will have sparked excitement among supporters to tune in, with Gary Lineker and his punditry panel primed to take viewers through all the best bits.

However, the last night of this year’s BBC Proms – an eight-week series of classical music concerts – ran on later than planned. As a result, tuning in at Match of the Day’s scheduled 10:30pm (BST) start time may have left viewers confused.

A short clip of Lineker was aired alerting them that the show would begin ‘after the news’, which was introduced as ‘later than billed’. And a group of football fans on social media were not best pleased.

X user @jasperrssmith wrote: “Absolutely sickened that the proms have delayed match of the day.” @AWoronieck9387 added: “Just give me match of the day, not the news, anything but the news!”

And @CrownMiddleton moaned: “One of the few times I’ve stayed in on a Saturday night, get ready to watch Match of the Day and Last Night of the Proms has delayed it.” While @Afc_El_ noted: “Match of the day should’ve started 7 minutes ago, fix up @BBCOne.”

The show’s famous theme tune finally kicked in 18 minutes behind schedule, as Lineker opened with: “The Premier League returned after the international break, which lasted nearly as long as the Proms!”

Stationed next to former Premier League stars Danny Murphy and Alan Shearer, the trio presented a host of mouth-watering contests. Saturday started with Manchester United outclassing Southampton 3-0 at lunchtime, and ended with Chelsea taking a smash-and-grab victory from Bournemouth courtesy of Christopher Nkunku’s late winner.

Two titles contenders players in the 3pm kick-offs, with Manchester City run close at home to Brentford and Liverpool surprisingly defeated at Anfield by underdogs Nottingham Forest.

Aston Villa and Everton contested a thrilling 3-2 in which the Toffees surrendered a two-goal lead for the second game running. There was also room for draws between Fulham and West Ham, Crystal Palace and Leicester City, and Brighton and Ipswich Town.