Football Focus to end after 52 years

Football Focus is to end after 52 years, BBC Sport has announced.

Launched in 1974, the Saturday lunchtime television programme provided fans with interviews, analysis and stories from across the game before the weekend's fixtures.

Changing audience habits have meant a growth in the use of digital platforms and on-demand to get the same pre-match content.

As a result, linear television viewing figures have gradually declined since 2018.

Football Focus will run until the end of the season.

Alex 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.

"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."

From next season, Kelly Somers' The Football Interview will move to Saturday at 12:45 BST on BBC One. Final Score with Jason Mohammad will start on BBC One earlier than it has this season - at 15:45 BST.

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva, Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike and Manchester United boss Michael Carrick are among the players and coaches to have featured on The Football Interview this season.

BBC Sport says it will expand its digital output across BBC platforms, including exclusive shows on YouTube. The intention is to deliver more high-quality, accessible and engaging football coverage at scale.

Football Focus started out as part of Grandstand, with Sam Leitch presenting a pre-cursor called Football Preview.

It was renamed Football Focus, with Bob Wilson becoming an iconic figure. After first taking on presenting duties in 1974, the former Arsenal goalkeeper stayed in the role for 20 years.

Steve Rider, Gary Lineker, Ray Stubbs, Manish Bhasin and Dan Walker - for 12 years - all had stints in the chair.

Its final host will be Alex Scott, who has presented Football Focus for the past five years and will continue to work for the BBC.

"Alex Scott is one of our finest presenters, is hugely popular across the men's and women's game and is a big part of our present and future," added Kay-Jelski.

"She will remain at the heart of our sports output across both the men's World Cup this year and the Women's World Cup in 2027, as well as continuing her lead role on the Women's Super League and BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

"We are also working on a very exciting new project with her - more to come on that soon."

Scott said being part of the programme had been "incredibly special" and it was an "honour" to have been presenter for five years.

"It has been such an important part of my life, working with some of the very best people in the business, both on screen and behind the scenes," she said on Instagram.