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Ian Wright quits BBC in 'jester' row
Last updated at 14:33pm on 17.04.08
Jest in time: Ian Wright says he doesn't want to work on the BBC's England football coverage anymore
Match of the Day: Wright with Hansen and Shearer
Ian Wright has quit as a football pundit for the BBC, claiming he was forced to become a "comedy jester".
The former England and Arsenal star attacked the corporation for its stuffy match coverage and said it was out of touch with today's fans.
He told TV industry bible Broadcast magazine: " Times are changing. I don' t know how long young people are going to want to sit down and watch that same old 'jacket, shirt and tie' format.
"Fans want people dressed like them. They've got no one to relate to on TV and that's why I've said to them I don't want to do the England games anymore."
Wright, 44, whose BBC role earned him an estimated £50,000, will present the return of Gladiators on Sky One this summer and co-hosts the daily afternoon show
Bowtime on Talksport radio. He added: "I feel like I'm just there as a comedy jester to break the ice with Alan Shearer and Alan Hansen who just do run-of-the-mill things. I can't do that anymore. People want something different."
After retiring from football in May 2000, Wright has reinvented himself as a TV presenter with moderate success.
He signed a long-term deal with the BBC in January 2001 and has since fronted shows such as I'd Do Anything, Friends Like These, Surviving The Kalahari and the National Lottery show.
He drew praise for his exercise show Ian Wright's Unfit Kids for Channel 4 and also has a number of lucrative endorsements, appearing in adverts for Nintendo Wii and Ladbrokes.
The BBC said: " We wish Ian all the best."
WRONGS THAT MADE WRIGHT
Problems at Leeds "The club has literally exploded."
A comedy sketch involving Ricky Gervais and a midget "I don't know what it is about little people like that.. I just love 'em!"
Tony Adams's alcoholism "It took a lot of bottle for Tony to own up."
Being linked to the England job "I've got the passion but no idea of tactics - I'd be like a black Kevin Keegan."
David Beckham's sending off against Argentina in 1998 "Without being too harsh on David Beckham, he cost us the match."
His former manager "Arsene Wenger gives us unbelievable belief."
His favourite film "I'm an emotional person and I enjoy crying. You know the film Beaches with Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey? Sometimes, when I want a good cry, I put it on."
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Reader views (11)
The novelty of Wright wore off a long time ago.
The only time he delivered anything novel was when his Son scored a goal and he "went off on one" around the Studio.
Maybe Mr Wright has found his home on Sky One where all the presenters appear to require elocution lessons.
He won't be missed.
- Tangomike, Kensington, London
Race Card? Anyway, he was the loud, brash alternative and very much welcome sometimes, Alan Hanson is very knowledgeable, but with no heart or passion for the game anymore, he's just a mass of stats. The rest are too scared to criticise the big players and clubs apart from Arsenal it seems.
- Melissa, London
Any chance of him quitting his job at Talksport too? Listening to the rubbish he and Adrian Durham talk he's nothing more than a comedy jester on that station too. Come back Rodney Marsh, all is forgiven.
- John, Bromley, Kent.
He was embarrassingly useless in his analysis of matches.
- Tony, Harrow
It is a shame Ian has left the BBC. But he is his own man. So were will the BBC get another pundit of colour. There's not much footballers of colour that can take his place. And if the BBC do not replace Ian with a man of colour then it will not be far off from the Police force or the Government. Come on The BBC sort yourself out or the forget those of colour watching your channel(as if they care).
- Mark Mahoney, London, Brockley
Wrighty will be missed. He is an excellent pundit, with knowledge of the game and an ability to relate to the fans, something Hansen lacks.
He is not chippy, he has never 'played the race card', and his colour has nothing to do with this decision or this discussion, so I fail to see why it has even been mentioned!
- Northlondongirl, London, UK
He will be missed, the others are far too stuffy.
- Mark, Hammersmith
Go on mate, play the race card.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Well in one word he won't be "missed" got a chip on his shoulder.
- Terry, Newark
He projected himself as a comedy turn and is just attempting to cash in on it.
- Paul, London
He'd be better off on ITV anyway, that's where most of the reality TV dross is.
- Tel Rorist, Balham
