Alex Scott and Dan Walker exchange heated words at plush charity dinner after host of BBC’s struggling Football Focus was offended by her predecessor’s comments about declining viewership figures
- Alex Scott and Dan Walker were involved in a Twitter spat over Football Focus
- Scott was offended after Walker posted that ‘it’s hard to see the show struggling’
- Click HERE to listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s ‘It’s All Kicking Off’
Football Focus presenters Alex Scott and Dan Walker exchanged heated words at a charity dinner on Monday night following their recent X (formerly Twitter) spat triggered by Mail Sport’s revelations that the programme’s viewing figures have dropped by over a third.
Eyewitnesses at The Legends of Football dinner at the Grosvenor Hotel in London have told Mail Sport that Scott made a beeline for Walker, her predecessor as host of Football Focus, leading to a lively exchange lasting several minutes before they parted amicably with a hug.
Walker had offended Scott 10 days ago by tweeting on Saturday morning that it was ‘hard to see Football Focus struggling’ as ‘we poured everything into that show every week.
His comments followed Mail Sport’s revelations that their August viewing figures had declined dramatically from 849,000 in 2019 to 564,000 this year.
The former Arsenal and England defender responded by posting a GIF from children’s TV programme iCarly, which shows a girl looking at her computer screen before saying, ‘Interesting’.
Dan Walker (left) and Football Focus presenter Alex Scott (not pictured) exchanged heated words at a charity dinner on Monday after the pair were involved in a spat on social media
Scott (above) replaced Walker in 2021 after his 12 years of presenting BBC’s Football Focus
Scott was offended by her predecessor remarking that it was ‘hard to see Football Focus struggling’ after Mail Sport’s revelations that the programme’s viewing figures had plummeted
Scott replaced Walker after 12 years presenting Focus in 2021, a change which coincided with a decline in viewing numbers, although the drop had already begun and she is not being blamed by her BBC bosses.
In Walker’s last season before he was moved on, the average weekly August audience was 827,000, before dropping to 809,000 in 2021, 599,000 12 months later and 564,000 this year.
After Scott’s testy response on X, Walker had attempted to make the peace by replying, ‘I’m not saying you haven’t Alex.
‘It’s a saturated market and it’s hard work every week. I hope you have a good show today.’
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The show’s August viewing figures have declined from 849,000 in 2019 to 564,000 this year
After Scott’s testy response, he tried to make the peace and said: ‘I’m not saying you haven’t Alex. It’s a saturated market and it’s hard work every week. I hope you have a good show today’
Later in the day Scott returned to the subject after presenting the show, writing, ‘Thank you to everyone who tuned into Football Focus, your support for such an iconic show means so much to everyone who works across it.
‘Viewing figures double that of anything on TV at that time yesterday. Have a bless Sunday and see you at the Emirates you gunners.’
The pair’s conversation on Monday evening appeared to begin in a similarly feisty manner before they made peace.
The Legends of Football dinner honoured Chelsea manager Emma Hayes and former England striker Ian Wright whilst raising money for innovative charity Nordoff and Robbins, who provide music therapy to people of all ages living with autism, dementia and other neurological conditions.
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