However, he quickly returned to our screens after colleagues rallied around him. While there have been instances of one-off guest presenters, recent reports suggest that the BBC may not opt for a single successor.

The Sun suggests that the broadcaster may instead choose a group of rotating hosts, with Mark Chapman named as a potential candidate.

Other possible contenders include Gabby Logan and Jason Mohammad, who have previously co-hosted the BBC's Champions League highlights show with Chapman, as well as BBC regular Alex Scott.

The presenter himself has hinted at an impending end to his tenure with the broadcaster. "As you know, like [Liverpool players] Trent [Alexander-Arnold], like Virgil [van Dijk], like Mo [Salah], I am coming to the end of my contract in the summer," Lineker revealed on The Rest is Football podcast in October.

At that time, rumours were rife that the BBC was set to confirm his exit, yet no official word came through.

"It's natural at some point that you have to have conversations and they've just started," he continued. "I don't know why it all spiralled out of control, but all is okay."

In August, while celebrating Match of the Day's 60th anniversary on BBC Breakfast, Lineker mused about his future with the show. "It depends how long they want me, I suppose," he reflected.

"I love doing it at the moment; I've still got another year left, at least. So we'll have to wait and see what happens. Obviously it's another change in football and television and the rights of the Premier League and stuff like that. All of these things will play a part. But I just feel it's been an absolute privilege to have presented it for 25 years now. I must be getting old!"