Gary Lineker prefers hosting quiz show to football punditry

2 November 2021

Gary Lineker prefers presenting a quiz show to being a football pundit.

Gary Lineker

The 'Match of the Day' host is to front new ITV series 'Sitting on a Fortune', and he was "much happier" asking questions on the programme than he is giving his opinions about football on TV.

Former England footballer Gary said: "Asking the questions is much more fun … when you’re a pundit you have to give opinions, and as a contestant there’s the pressure of looking like a fool when you get something easy wrong.

"I’m much happier asking the questions."

While Gary wasn't tasked with answering questions on his new show, the star admitted if he was a contestant on the programme then his knowledge of science and the royal family isn't very good.

He added to Radio Times magazine: "I’m pretty good on sport and geography, not bad at politics and history, but useless on years and science, and hopeless on the royal family.

"I’m not bad as a general knowledge quizzer."

Earlier this week, Gary said he was determined that 'Sitting on a Fortune' will be better than fellow former footballer Ian Wright's rival programme 'Moneyball'.

Former Spurs star Gary's new game show gives players the chance to win up to £100,000, but ex-Arsenal legend Ian recently launched a show which boasts a top prize of £250,000.

Gary said: "Yeah but how often will they win it [the £250k jackpot]? How often do people win substantial amounts of money on my show? The only thing I care about is having a better show than Wrighty!”

'Sitting on a Fortune' will launch on ITV on Sunday (07.11.21) and the format will see six players take turns sitting at the front of a row of chairs where they will have the chance to answer a question worth up to £100,00 in a format that he says promises "instant jeopardy".

Gary explained: "In the first bit we've got six and we need to get to three for the final.

"The person who answers the third question correctly goes through to the final and the person in the back chair goes home so there's instant jeopardy."