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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Susan Knox

Holly Willoughby wades into Gary Lineker row as she praises BBC solidarity

Holly Willoughby admitted that she 'loved' seeing the solidarity between Gary Lineker's work colleagues following his BBC row.

Lineker was controversially axed by the BBC after criticising the government's use of language towards migrants.

He has stood by his comments, and today, it has been confirmed that the 62-year-old will be returning to present football on the BBC.

BBC bosses appear to agree that their decision to take him off air was wrong.

Holly Willoughby backed the presenter on Monday's installment of This Morning (ITV)

The corporation announced on Friday that Lineker would not present Match of the Day while the fallout from his tweets criticising the government’s small boats policy was dealt with.

Their decision sparked a wave of anger from the public - including many of Lineker’s BBC colleagues.

Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Alex Scott and match commentators pulled out of the iconic Saturday highlights show throwing the BBC’s coverage into chaos.

The BBC have now reinstated Lineker (Getty Images)

After a weekend broadcasting match action with no commentary or pundit insight, the BBC have now reinstated Lineker in time for him to present FA Cup coverage this coming weekend.

Following Gary's BBC row, Holly Willoughby backed the presenter on Monday's installment of This Morning, admitting that she enjoyed watching the solidarity between Gary's fellow commentators.

Debating the topic on the show this morning, Holly and Phillip Schofield shared their thoughts with showbiz guru Gyles Brandreth.

Holly and Phil both backed Lineker (ITV)

Holly admitted, 42, said that she loved watching the biggest row to hit the BBC in recent years.

It comes after more than 210,000 Mirror readers have signed our petition to reinstate Lineker on Match of the Day.

Mirror Editor-in-Chief Alison Phillips said: “We were overwhelmed by the number of people who joined the call to have Gary Lineker reinstated and the strength of feeling of so many.

‘’We believe that popular strength of feeling in support of Gary Lineker sent a clear message to the BBC which had come under huge pressure from those on the right who wish to silence those with a different viewpoint to their own ."

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