Match of the Day

For the American version, see Match of the Day (American TV series). For the Doctor Who novel, see Match of the Day (novel). For the Genesis song, see Spot the Pigeon.

Match of the Day
Also known asMOTD
GenreFootball highlights[1]
Created byBryan Cowgill[2]
Presented byGary Lineker
StarringAlan Shearer
Danny Murphy
Martin Keown
Dion Dublin
Micah Richards
Leon Osman
Narrated byGuy Mowbray
Steve Wilson
Steve Bower
Simon Brotherton
Jonathan Pearce
Conor McNamara
Theme music composerBarry Stoller[3]
Opening themeMatch of the Day theme
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series51
No. of episodesOver 5,000
Production
ProducerColm Harty
Production locationsStudio TC5, BBC Television Centre (1964–2011)
dock10 studios (2011–present)[4]
EditorRichard Hughes
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running timeLive: 150–210 minutes (Depends on Extra time or Penalties)
Highlights: 60–105 minutes
Production companyBBC Sport
Original release
Network
Release22 August 1964 (1964-08-22) –
present
Related
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Match of the Day (abbreviated to MOTD) is a football highlights programme, typically broadcast on BBC One on Saturday nights, during the Premier League season.[5][1] The show's current presenter is former England international striker Gary Lineker, with regular analysis from fellow former players Alan Shearer, and occasional relief analysts such as Micah Richards, Frank Lampard, Shay Given, Ashley Williams, Danny Murphy, Martin Keown, Theo Walcott and Dion Dublin.

Match of the Day is one of the BBC's longest-running shows, having been on air since 22 August 1964.[6] In 2015, Guinness World Records recognised it "as the longest-running football television programme in the world."[7] The show's theme tune was voted the most recognised television theme in a 2010 poll conducted by the PRS.[6] From the 2004–05 season, a second programme, Match of the Day 2, usually airs on the following Sunday and features highlights of all the day's games, whilst showing the goals from the previous days' action.[8]

  1. ^ a b "BBC One - Match of the Day". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 March 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  2. ^ Barker, Dennis (18 July 2008). "Bryan Cowgill". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  3. ^ Stoller, Barry (22 August 2014). "Match Of The Day At 50: My iconic theme even has a banjo". Love TV. BBC. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  4. ^ "The Studios Manchester MediaCityUK". www.dock10.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  5. ^ "BBC's Match of the Day marks 50 years as an institution of English football". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Match of the Day begins". BBC. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Match of the Day named world's longest-running football show". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Match of the Day". Press Office (Press release). BBC. 24 July 2004. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.