‘She always delays things, she’ll be fine!’ Gary Lineker defends BBC1 amid backlash at missing May’s emergency speech in favour of FA Cup 3rd round replay (but some say football was more exciting anyway)
- Nail-biter meant live coverage of Prime Minister’s statement was shifted to BBC2
- The decision provided plenty of opportunities for jokes among UK Twitter users
- One on them quipped: ‘Great idea get Brexit sorted while Lineker is distracted’
BBC chiefs sparked a Twitter storm last night after the channel missed Theresa May’s keynote Brexit speech because an FA cup replay went into extra time.
The corporattions flagship channel continued showing the Southampton and Derby third round replay as the PM’s statement at 10pm was moved onto BBC Two.
It sparked a wave of criticism from viewers who had tuned into to watch the address, but equally others said they were pleased TV bosses decided to stay with the football.
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, who was presenting the coverage on BBC One last night, also had his say when it emerged the game was going to overrun.
Referencing the PM he said: ‘She always delays things. She’ll be fine.’
One user wrote: The absolute best thing about the BBC not switching @BBCMOTD FA cup replay to BBC 2 in order to make way for @theresa may emergency speech was that they took the gamble, and won, that the football would provide more entertainment.’
Another said: ‘No wonder the BBC didn’t put Theresa May’s speech on BBC1 and continued with the football Nothing said. Nothing learned. Nothing.’
‘Great idea get Brexit sorted while Lineker is distracted,’ quipped Jack Murray, while others went for the more predictable, ‘At least we’ll know the game will get us a result’.
The nail-biter meant live coverage of the Prime Minister’s statement was shifted from the corporation’s flagship channel onto BBC2, providing plenty of opportunities for gags from Twitter users
The Prime Minister used the address from outside Number 10 to urge MPs to put aside their self-interest to find a way forward on Brexit and hit out at Jeremy Corbyn for refusing to meet her.
It appeared few Twitter users lamented its absence from BBC1 though, with one user writing: ‘How fitting that Theresa May’s inevitably predictable speech about nothing much in particular or anything particularly new has been bumped off by the football.’
Connor Staitey wrote: ‘Listen to Theresa May speech or watch 2nd half of extra time in a good tie ……. tough one I think I’ll watch the football @BBCSport.’
Others cited the incident as an example of good old-fashioned British eccentricity.
One said: ‘For those outside the UK: Theresa May is about to give a speech.
‘It was planned to be aired on BBC One, but it’s had to be moved to BBC Two because a football match went into extra time.’
Many people on Twitter cited the incident as an example of good old-fashioned British eccentricity
Scott Bryan wrote: ‘Theresa May is doing the speech at 10pm hoping it will be on News at Ten but it will be on BBC Two due to football BREXIT NEVER CEASES TO SURPRISE.’
And Jay Denney added: ‘Eccentricity and idiosyncrasy are core parts of our national skill set.’
Southampton v Derby ended in a 2-2 draw before Derby won on penalties.
Jonathan Wren thought there was a lesson in that, joking: ‘Perhaps Brexit could be resolved by a Leave/Remain penalty shoot out?’
Southampton v Derby (pictured) ended in a 2-2 draw before Derby won on penalties
The speech on the steps of Downing Street last night saw May appeal for MPs to set aside their loyalities and find a way forward on Brexit.
She spoke after dramatically surviving an attempt to oust her as her government won a ‘no confidence’ vote.
May said the British people wanted politicians to ‘get on with’ delivering on the verdict of the referendum – and also rebuked Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for turning down her offer of talks.
The address to the nation from Downing Street came after she defeated Mr Corbyn’s no-confidence motion by 325 votes to 306, thwarting the Labour leader’s bid to force a general election.
Speaking outside Number 10 late last night, Mrs May said: ‘I understand that to people getting on with their lives, away from Westminster, the events of the past 24 hours will have been unsettling.
‘Overwhelmingly, the British people want us to get on with delivering Brexit, and also address the other important issues they care about.
‘But the deal which I have worked to agree with the European Union was rejected by MPs, and by a large margin. I believe it is my duty to deliver on the British people’s instruction to leave the EU. And I intend to do so.’