BBC Football Focus replaced by huge fan favourite in TV shake-up over Gary Lineker suspension
BBC'S Football Focus has been pulled off-air and replaced with a huge fan favourite amid a major TV shake-up.
It comes after the broadcaster suspended sports pundit Gary Lineker from his Match Of The Day hosting role.
Former England footballing ace Gary sparked a major backlash this week when he took to to hit out at the Government's Illegal Migration Bill, which bans migrants who arrive on small boats from ever settling in Britain.
After his suspension high-profile names within the BBC, such as Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Micah Richards, Mark Chapman and Jermain Jenas, all pulled out as a sign of solidarity.
This prompted similar reactions from the BBC Football Focus team, led by Alex Scott, which is .
Instead, fan-favourite series Bargain Hunt will take its place at the midday slot on the schedule.
read more bargain hunt
It will be an hour long episode running from noon until 1pm, and followed by the news.
Recently, the programme has showcased an "amazing" £2K find from the Titanic.
It has also caused controversy with a "scandalous" rule break when one antique was banned.
Meanwhile, Gary, who has fronted MOTD since 1999, was suspended from his presenting duties after previously saying he would face no disciplinary action.
Most read in News TV
A BBC statement said: "The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines.
"The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we've got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.
"When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none.
"We have never said that Gary should be an opinion free zone, or that he can't have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies."
A spokesperson added that the Beeb considered Gary's "recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines" and that he should "keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies".
The row ignited after Gary tweeted in reference to the Government's new immigration bill, saying: "Good heavens, this is beyond awful."
Responding to another user who described him as "out of order", he added: "We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.
"This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the '30s, and I'm out of order?"
The legislation will see migrants swiftly detained and removed to either their country of origin or a safe third state within 28 days.
But the bill faces an uphill battle against human rights groups and campaigners who argue it clashes with the European Convention on Human Rights.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
He declared yesterday morning that he stands by his tweets hitting out at Rishi Sunak's crackdown on illegal migration.
