Mail Sport columnist Simon Jordan sparked a major debate after claiming the BBC’s iconic Football Focus show was losing its way.

Jordan’s latest Mail Sport column came after watching Saturday’s latest episode, which he described as ‘pedestrian, vacuous, uninspiring and uninformative’.

He wrote that the show should be ‘about the games, the personalities and the stars instead of endlessly talking about societal issues’, after suggesting Football Focus had become the latest example of BBC box ticking.

You can have your say and vote in Mail Sport’s latest poll which asks ‘Have YOU fallen out of love with Football Focus?’

Football Focus is a legacy TV show but Simon Jordan described Saturday’s episode as pedestrian, vacuous, uninspiring and uninformative

Mail Sport columnist Simon Jordan believes the BBC’s Football Focus has lost its way

Dear Simon,

Your article regarding the state of Football Focus has my complete agreement.

I am an 83-year-old Liverpool supporter and was a keen follower of the programme from its beginning. I, my father and brother wouldn’t have missed it if at all possible as it was always full of everything informative about the game we played and loved. Regrettably, I stopped watching the programme a couple of years ago when the format changed to what you described so well in your article.

I find it all very sad but it would appear that the BBC is more interested in following current social trends than providing the kind of programmes which interest the majority of viewers.

Sincerely,

Derek Duthie, Aberdeenshire

Having read your article this morning, I couldn’t agree more. I stopped watching it some time ago for this very reason. Nothing against Alex Scott, or women in football for that matter, however I don’t think Alex has the charisma to carry what should be a look ahead to the day’s games with relevant material and updates. I don’t involve myself with social media and only use TV for information. Regrettably, this woke agenda is mirrored across the whole of the BBC. Keep up your informative insight.Best regards,

Bob Blair

I have just sat down and read your article in today’s Daily Mail on Football Focus. I couldn’t agree with you more. I am a 71-year-old lifetime football supporter (Tottenham my team!) and used to look forward to Saturday’s show, yet the change of presenters and format and, as you say, the constant need to tick certain boxes has left the programme dull and uninteresting and I’ve fallen out of love with it.

I hope the BBC take note but I doubt it. We need someone like you to front the programme. I don’t always agree with your views but that’s why I like you. You are controversial and you are not afraid to speak your mind honestly and that is what I enjoy about listening to you and your colleagues on talkSPORT.

Football Focus has become dull and uninspiring. Such a shame but having read your article at least I know it’s not just me who thinks that way. Great column, Simon, keep those interesting and edgy views coming.

Thanks,

David Stanley

I wholeheartedly agree with your article on Football Focus. Sadly I fear it will not strike a chord with the producers of what is now, as you rightly state, an exercise in diversity box-ticking. I believe Lawro saw the writing on the wall towards the end of his punditry career. Thank you for putting into print what I believe are the thoughts and feelings of an ignored, silenced majority.

Best wishes,

Dean Ford (no longer watching FF)

I enjoy your weekly columns, Simon, but wonder why you are getting so bothered about this. Your insights on football from the perspective of an owner and chairman are invaluable but you don’t need to spend time criticising a Saturday lunchtime TV show — just don’t watch it!

Regards,

Sarah Smith, Nottingham

Well done, Simon. An excellent article about the sad decline of Football Focus. I miss Lawro et al. I don’t blame Alex Scott, who is a bright and breezy character but clearly she is having to follow a completely unnecessary woke agenda. Frankly, it just isn’t interesting any more. Thank goodness lunchtime games kick off at 12.30 so I can turn over.

Regards, Ian Berry (Coventry City fan)

In an age where almost all televised live football is on subscription channels, Football Focus is still worth watching, if only to offer a briefing on the weekend’s action to terrestrial viewers who don’t want to pay through the nose.

James Clark

Wonderful to read your column. I have watched this since its inception and agree the content is not up to the standard it has been over the years. It won’t last much longer with the current panelists and content. It will become another Question of Sport.

No name supplied

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was among the guests in the past on Football Focus

Could not agree more with your article. The show has been ruined. The “Focus” should be on the football. There are far, far too many societal issues infecting the brief of the show. We all get enough of society’s endless problems during the week. Football/sport should be the reprieve from them at the end of the week.

Jonathan Murphy, County Antrim

I cringe watching BBC on a Friday night telling us what sport is on the channel at the weekend. Most of it is embarrassing. The BBC has lost nearly every top-class sport. Rugby looks to be next. Totally agree about the Championship also. Keep up the great writing. PS: Being a Derby County supporter for 60 years, I know what’s it’s like to go into decline.

Regards, 

Damien Walker

Excellent on Football Focus, Simon. I’ve felt this for years. I’m 61 and Focus was a big part of my youth. I haven’t watched it for many years now. It’s woke as hell.

The BBC are ruining all its great institutions through virtue signalling. Thanks for putting into words what most of us are scrambling around with in our brains.

Steve Beach