BBC gets official complaints over Gary Lineker bald jokes on MOTD

BBC probes discrimination complaints against Gary Lineker after Match of the Day host mocked pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy for being BALD

  • Lineker said season has been ‘hair-raising stuff, unless your Shearer or Murphy’ 
  • Opening clip from Match Of The Day was shared by BBC on Twitter with emojis
  • But Lineker says BBC has since had complaints and is obliged to investigate  

Gary Lineker mocked his Match Of The Day co-stars Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy for being bald, which has now triggered BBC complaints

The BBC has become embroiled in a row after Gary Lineker mocked his Match Of The Day co-hosts Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy for being bald. 

Lineker, who is one of the broadcaster’s highest-paid stars, poked fun at his fellow presenters for not having any hair on Saturday night’s show. 

He told viewers: ‘It’s a strong start to the premier league season. Real hair-raising stuff at times… unless you’re Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy.’ 

The camera then focuses on the two men who laugh with their head in their hands. 

But Lineker has now claimed the BBC received complaints over his jibe and is now obliged to investigate. 

He told his 7.3million Twitter followers: ‘The BBC has received a complaint about bald jokes on @BBCMOTD (genuinely). 

‘Very unfair I feel to call @alanshearer @IanWright0 & Danny Murphy jokes.’

The BBC refused to comment on whether it is investigating Lineker’s joke, reports the Telegraph. MailOnline has also contacted the corporation.  

Pictured: Alan Shearer

Pictured: Danny Murphy

Lineker told viewers: ‘It’s a strong start to the premier league season. Real hair-raising stuff at times… unless you’re Alan Shearer (left) and Danny Murphy (right).’

The presenter shared news of the complaints with his 7.3million Twitter followers

The presenter shared news of the complaints with his 7.3million Twitter followers

It comes after the BBC was forced to admit a news graphic claiming pro-Brexit parties lost the European Elections was a ‘lapse of its editorial standards’. 

Back in May BBC News reported Remain parties had won 40.4 per cent of the vote and pro-leave parties 34.9 per cent. 

But it only included the Brexit Party and Ukip – failing to take in the Conservative result, which would have seen pro-Brexit parties win overall. 

The corporation has extremely strict editorial policy and are under an obligation to give feedback about viewer complaints to programme staff.   

There is a huge focus on diversity, with specific policies that apply to ‘gender, disability, ethnicity and sexual orientation’. 

However many of Lineker’s followers though his joke was funny, with one tweeting: ‘Some of your snowflake pals Gary!’  

Another posted: ‘Some folk aren’t happy unless they’re complaining And those lads aren’t bald anyway, they just have one hell of a parting….and I should know’

One exasperated fan wrote: ‘Are you being serious the word we living in it’s going mad I lost the will to live.’

But others were less impressed, with one hitting back: ‘Don’t try and make a joke out of it Gary. Stick to crisps.’

Poking fun at Lineker in return, one wrote: ‘As a baldy I couldn’t care less if someone jokes about my bald head but my sticky out ears that’s another subject entirely……’

The clip has received 107,500 views on social media and is still viewable on the BBC sport website and online

The clip has received 107,500 views on social media and is still viewable on the BBC sport website and online 

Another posted: ‘I’m bald and the funniest thing about bald jokes is most bald people couldn’t give a flying! 

‘On a more serious note tho, if publicly this is how the BBC deal with a complaint, allowing a seemingly ‘untouchable’ employee to mock…then what hope do we have.’ 

Lineker was slammed for taking part in a People’s Vote rally event in London and consistently expressing his support of Britain remaining in the EU. 

With a salary of at least £1.75million a year, he is one of the highest-paid stars across the BBC.

But he is classed as a freelancer and is therefore allowed to depart from the corporations rules on impartiality, regularly sharing divisive political opinions on social media.   

A spokesman for Alopecia UK told the Telegraph: ‘It’s a shame that those in the media still use that platform in a way that reinforces negativity towards hair loss.

‘We increasingly hear from more and more men who struggle with hair loss.

‘Jokes about anyone’s physical attributes are extremely outdated and this includes ‘banter’ about hair loss.’   

The pair (pictured on the show) chuckled at their co-presenters joke at their expense

The pair (pictured on the show) chuckled at their co-presenters joke at their expense 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk