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BBC to End Football Focus After 52 Years
The BBC has confirmed that its long-running Saturday lunchtime show, Football Focus, will end at the end of the current football season.

First broadcast in 1974, the programme has been a staple of BBC Sport’s weekend coverage for over five decades, providing interviews, analysis and stories ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.

In a statement, the BBC said: “Following extensive consideration, BBC Sport has decided to say goodbye to Football Focus at the end of this season”, adding that “changing audience behaviours mean fans are now increasingly consuming football content in different ways”.

The show’s audience has declined in recent years, dropping from around 849,000 in 2019 to 564,000 in 2023, according to The Telegraph.

Current host Alex Scott — who took over in 2021 — will remain at the heart of BBC Sport and has been confirmed for the World Cup 2026 coverage.

The BBC also announced that Final Score will start earlier at 3:45pm each Saturday from next season, while The Football Interview, hosted by Kelly Somers, will take over the 12:45pm slot currently occupied by Football Focus.

The final edition is expected to air on Saturday 23rd May, a day before the Premier League season concludes on 24th May.

Source: BBC Sport statement via Radio Times / BBC Sport