S8 EP1: Gary Lineker on England’s losing streak, leaving the BBC, and his frosty relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo

The Louis Theroux Podcast

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Tuesday, 9 June 2026 - 1 hour 20 minutes

For the first episode in the series, QPR fan Louis Theroux speaks with former England captain, broadcaster and fellow podcasting titan, Gary Lineker. Speaking ahead of the World Cup in North America, the pair discuss why England always lose, Gary’s split with the BBC, and why Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t speak to him anymore.  

Warnings: Strong language and adult themes.  

Links/Attachments: 

TV Show: Tiger, (2021) 

⁠https://tv.apple.com/gb/show/tiger/umc.cmc.1p5g95s1v5v0t7i8xjgc1f0wo⁠  

TV Show: When Lineker Met Maradona, (2006) 

⁠https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007cgb3⁠  

TV Show: Match of the Day, (1964 – present) 

⁠https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b007t9y1/match-of-the-day⁠  

Article: BBC has ducked this for too long — it must stand up to brazen Gary Lineker  (2025) 

⁠https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/gary-lineker-instagram-post-bbc-matthew-syed-9x0jjhwcg⁠  

Music Video: Total Eclipse of the Heart, Bonnie Tyler (1983)  

⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOxhH8N3Bo⁠  

Podcast: Lineker & Baker: Behind Closed Doors (2018-2020) 

⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3GxmEAvR7lOSfpGAqnL9s1⁠  

Podcast: We Have Ways of Making You Talk (2019 – present) 

⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/34VlAepHmeloDD76RX4jtc⁠  

Podcast: The Rest Is History (2020 – present) 

⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7Cvsbcjhtur7nplC148TWy⁠  

Podcast: The Rest Is Politics (2022 – present) 

⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Ysx8g1Iw42gESAtegrFaH⁠  

Podcast: The Rest Is Classified (2024 – present) 

⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Jn1HIW6I1AQnKVpsJHdEf⁠  

Podcast: The Rest Is Entertainment (2023 – present) 

⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1mDl2B7a016YRXR2wSBy4T⁠  

Podcast: The Rest Is Football (2023 – present) 

⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2fDn3EgvJZ5J1k5rrBwrlZ⁠  

Credits: 

Producer: Millie Chu  

Researcher: Rachael Devine 

Assistant Producer: Maisie Williams 

Production Manager: Francesca Bassett  

Music: Miguel D’Oliveira  

Executive Producer: Arron Fellows  

A Mindhouse Studios Production for Spotify  

⁠www.mindhouse.co.uk⁠  

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