Gary Lineker Gaffe

[grumpy01]

Last night Gary Lineker introduced Ben Stokes as "the main award winner" even before the voting had opened.Does anyone agree with me that these phone in votes are not what they seem and are a ruse to get more money out of Joe Public.

[10ClarionSt]

I've always thought it was ruse. Even before phone-in results. Someone at the BBC picks the winner beforehand. They then pretend that "your vote counts" but it only adds to the farce. I didn't watch it, actually. I think the live sports coverage that the BBC gives us now is a joke; womens' football; bowls; snooker etc. The winner will be from one of the sports that the BBC doesn't cover live.

[grumpy01]

I actually didn't watch it either 10 Clarion st. but have seen it reported in the press this morning.Although I don't mind snooker or bowls on t.v. but wish BBC would go back to broadcasting other live sports too.

[dannyk13]

10cs, you really should get rid of that bee in your bonnet regarding women's football. I has gained in popularity and is here to stay.

[gollob]

It's always been a dodgy competition with Bob Nudd the fisherman apparently winning a few years back but the BBC said they would not give the prize to an angler
Then in 1966 Barry Briggs a world speedway champion won but that did not satisfy the BBC and awarded the prize to Bobby Moore and placed BB second
It is not a random any more and they pick the list of who you can vote for to stop these sort of things happening. A complete farce

[10ClarionSt]

It's patronising people who promote the farcical womens' football. Anyone who thinks it's any good, must be easily pleased. Very easily.

[dannyk13]

10cs, At least their teams are not propped up by foreign players.

[douglas9401]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_foreign_FA_Women%27s_Super_League_players

Just saying.

[mushroom25]

the thing to remember with anything like this - Strictly, X Factor, or even SPOTY; it's entertainment, first and foremost, and if the voting public are too thick or stupid to pick the "personality" most likely to win, then tweaking the result is all in the game.

[ToraToraTora]

well they've never trusted the public to give the "correct" answer have they. Remember when that fishing bloke won hands down but they gave it to someone else?

[dannyk13]

Douglas, I didn't say that there weren't any, just that the men's game in England relies on foreign players.

[Old_Geezer]

You mean they took a leaf out of the MP's book, Mush ?

[emmie]

i too wondered that, it was a massive gaffe.

[douglas9401]

Chortle.

[zebo]

It isn't a people's vote even if the phone-ins were legit, the 'short-list' is very short and decided beforehand. If the viewers are to choose let them have a free vote. What more does Adam Peaty have to do to be included? How about no-one who has already won it can be on the list for, say, 5 years?

[emmie]

agreed ^^

[anneasquith]

The whole programme is past its sell by date, and obviously not genuine. Dump it .

[ToraToraTora]

sounds like the Labour party anne!

[Jordyboy9]

I agree with anneasquith,dump it,
I also disagree with stokes getting the award,
My opinion on him has been given on here before,
He is nothing but a thug,but he is a great cricketer for England,so thats alright.