Adrian Chiles to leave BBC

Apparently, it has been confirmed that Steve Rider has quit his job as main anchor for ITV Sport...

Adrian Chiles will present the England vs Mexico game on May 24th...

ITV are discussing future projects for Steve but I doubt we will see him again on ITV personally...not even for this weekend's FA Cup Final or next weekend's Champions League Live Final.

This is such a shame...

We may well see Steve on next year's Rugby World Cup.

I don't think so:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/may/12/steve-rider-quits-itv-sport

Other reports of the same stuff suggest that the split was eventually amicable and didn't rule out Steve returning to ITV Sport in a different role. Broadcast, I think, suggested the rugby was a possibility.

As did the article linked too, which is why I suggested it.

You're quite right, I missed that crucial sentence. I apologise.

It is a repeat of the Bob Wilson/Des Lynam situation from about ten years ago. They Poached Wilson and then a couple of years later poached Lynam and shunted Wilson into onlivion, so he left.

It just follows the pattern of ITV having a new lead presenter ever World Cup since 1990.

Elton Welsby > Matt Lorenzo > Bob Wilson > Des Lynam > Steve Rider > Adrian Chiles

Gabby Logan never got to lead World Cup coverage, Steve Rider was brought in.

Chiles is on a 4 year deal with ITV, so it may be all change again in 2014.

Funny thing is out of that pattern you've put up, the last four presenters are all ex-BBC who have jumped ship to ITV for 'bigger and better things', if you put it like that.

I hope Chiles does last at ITV, I think he's a good presenter, but in comparison to Rider/Lynam/Chiles I do think he's more flexible to what he can present outside of Sport.

So it's comedian Jason Manford who is to succeed Chiles - not who I expected but I'll wait until he makes his debut before passing judgement.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a221979/manford-confirmed-as-new-one-show-host.html

I think you have to give a new presenter a few weeks to bed in. It took Christine and Adrian months to find the right formula.

Good choice I think - and an interesting one. Mainsteam normal bloke, warm, witty, obviously bright, and not a posh boy. Be interesting to see how he handles the heavier stuff - but I suspect he might surprise some people.

I think he'll have a certain, almost unidentifiable quirkiness that Adrian has but without the smarminess of someone like Chris Hollins. The other good thing is, like Adrian had he stayed, he will neither outshine Chris Evans on Friday or seem dramatically low-profile when compared to him.