ITV ditch football host Adrian Chiles - will he be missed?
Radio presenter Mark Pougatch to take over presenting duties as Chiles follows Townsend out of the door
Adrian Chiles is to be replaced as the host of ITV's football coverage by BBC Radio 5 live presenter Mark Pougatch, who will anchor the rest of this season's Champions League, Europa League and England coverage.
There is an element of intrigue to the announcement as ITV have refused to comment on the reasons behind the change, but Chiles has been stood down with immediate effect.
He is the latest big name casualty at the station, following fellow presenter Matt Smith and veteran co-commentator Andy Townsend out of the door. Roy Keane also quit his punditry duties on the eve of the World Cup.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Perhaps tellingly," says The Times, "Chiles was not mentioned at any point in the statement released by ITV this morning, which instead focused on Pougatch's elevation."
ITV also refused to comment on whether Chiles would continue to work with the station. The former BBC man joined ITV in a mammoth deal said to be worth millions per year in 2010. He was signed to present the station's football coverage and also front its new breakfast show, Daybreak, which was soon axed.
Although his everyman approach did not go down well in all quarters – there was a campaign to have him sacked after the World Cup – he remains "a broadcasting heavy hitter", says Mark Webster in the Daily Mail.
Webster belives Chiles performed well at the World Cup but says he should have left in the summer. In recent months he has been "trying too hard, being offbeat for offbeat's sake", he argues.
Others agree. "For a TV channel that is meant to be showing the best games football has to offer – Champions League, major international tournaments and, er, England – Chiles' happy-go-lucky charm just doesn't fit," says Jack de Menezes in The Independent.
His colleague, James Mariner, diagrees. Chiles "would say what those of us in the stands where thinking," he says. "Mark Pougatch is a first-class broadcaster and will no doubt fill Chiles' shows admirably, but I can't help feeling ITV have made their move too soon."
And, as the Daily Telegraph notes, Pougatch could be the big winner. "ITV will not have Champions League football next season but the move presents an intriguing prospect of Pougatch possibly hosting a Premier League Saturday evening highlights show from the 2016-17 season, should ITV outbid the BBC's Match of the Day for the rights."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Pélicot case: a horror exposed
Talking Point This case is unusually horrifying, but the misogyny that enabled is chillingly common
By The Week UK Published
-
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: pure 'nostalgia bait'
Talking Point Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder return for sequel to the 1988 cult classic
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: September 14, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Breathtaking: the Covid drama that may make you scream
The Week Recommends ITV three-parter is a 'tour de force' that exposes 'political complacency'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Joanna Lumley’s Spice Trail Adventure: an ‘uncynical’ celebrity travelogue
The Week Recommends This four-episode series follows Lumley to Indonesia, Madagascar, India, Jordan and Zanzibar
By The Week Staff Published
-
Phillip Schofield: TV royalty’s fall from grace
Why Everyone’s Talking About The presenter announced his departure from This Morning after an award-winning 20-year stint
By Rebekah Evans Published
-
Phil and Holly: is this the end for the nation’s favourite duo?
Talking Point This Morning hosts facing ‘tabloid feeding frenzy’ amid rumours of a falling out
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Stonehouse review: a fun drama about the MP who faked his own death
The Week Recommends Three-part ITV drama recounts the rise and fall of John Stonehouse, played by Matthew Macfadyen
By The Week Staff Published
-
Quiz stars: where are they now?
In Depth ITV show chronicling 2001 scandal puts the Ingrams back in the spotlight
By Gabriel Power Last updated
-
Most watched UK TV broadcasts ever: from Boris’s lockdown address to Princess Diana’s wedding
Speed Read Televised speech to nation racked up more than 27 million viewers, making it the eighth most watched broadcast in UK history
By Gabriel Power Last updated
-
Alastair Stewart quits over Twitter ‘errors of judgement’
Speed Read Broadcaster speaks of ‘regret’ after using ‘angry ape’ Shakespeare quote in online row
By The Week Staff Published