‘I used to be sacked as I am 65 and I am a white male’: Former presenter Mark Lawrenson hits out on the BBC

Mark Lawrenson has stated he thinks his departure from the BBC was right down to him being ’65 and a white male’.

The previous Liverpool defender had spent three a long time with the corpoation, together with 25 years with Soccer Focus, earlier than being instructed of the present’s format modifications in March.

Lawrenson instructed The Sunday Instances: ‘The Beeb are in all probability the worst at supplying you with dangerous information. It was simply, “We’re happening the street subsequent season with Focus. We don’t suppose it’s actually one thing for you.”

‘I haven’t watched the programme since to see if they’ve gone on the street. They neglect you’re an ex-footballer and will get subbed or dropped or transferred. Someone might say to me, “I’m sorry, it’s not excellent news.’ And I might say, “OK, simply inform me what it’s.”

‘I simply want that they had stated to me at the beginning of my contract final yr, ‘You’ve had an excellent run, thanks very a lot and you aren’t working subsequent season.”‘

Lawrenson revealed he ought to have considered leaving the present when host Dan Walker left his internet hosting duties after 12 years in 2021.

Whereas initially vexed with Walker’s substitute, ex-England and Arsenal participant Alex Scott, he got here round to supporting her.

‘Alex was simply thrown in, so from the outset we have been attempting to make the programme as simple as doable for her,’ he stated.

‘It was slightly bit irritating as a result of she would ask you a query after which transfer on to the following particular person and I might wish to say one thing I had simply considered, however I simply needed to shut up as a result of she was simply studying.

‘She has accomplished properly in equity to her and he or she is a beautiful child. It’s a tricky gig, as a result of Dan was so good. Some individuals simply don’t need her to be any good, however she has gotten higher and higher.’

He hit out at criticism for utilizing model names like Greggs whereas on the BBC, and when as a radio co-commentator within the wake of Princess Diana’s demise in 1997, he was instructed to keep away from any reference to free-kick ‘partitions’, in case someone would have been offended by the language used.

He stated he turned ‘anti-woke’, and rebelled in opposition to the BBC’s very secure tradition, usually pushed by a lot youthful co-workers.

Lawrenson revealed he turned ‘anti-woke’ in response to the BBC’s intention to not anger individuals

Lawrenson revealed: ‘In all my time on the BBC, no person ever stated you may’t say this or that, however the woke factor drives me bonkers.

‘Whereas usually you’d say the very first thing that comes into your head, you’re now pondering, “If I say that can I get into bother?” It was a bit like enjoying along with your legs tied collectively.

‘The BBC is the nationwide broadcaster and I get that, however they’re frightened to demise of upsetting anyone.’

The BBC and Sky Sports activities have each had massive modifications of their on-screen personalities lately. Lawrenson’s pal and former Liverpool teammate Phil Thompson was axed from the latter’s Soccer Saturday programming.

Lawrenson stated: ‘I spoke to Tommo and it caught him fully unexpectedly. Is the present any higher? No. Not pretty much as good? Yeah. It was only a unusual, unusual factor to do. Now they go round and do theatres and so they’re packed out.’

Lawrenson is about to take pleasure in a farewell lunch with the BBC and 20 friends, one thing he’s eager to embrace after his love of his three a long time with the company.

Sportsmail has contacted the BBC for remark.  

Former Liverpool teammates Lawrenson (second left again row) and Phil Thompson (proper again row) have talked to one another about their respective TV axes