Strictly Come Dancing star Alex Scott lands major new BBC job

Photo credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage - Getty Images
Photo credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage - Getty Images

Former footballer, Strictly Come Dancing star and The One Show presenter Alex Scott just landed a major new gig.

Starting in August of this year, she will be taking over presenting from Dan Walker on Football Focus, which the BBC Breakfast journalist has helmed for 12 years.

Her appointment to the job is a historical one for the 47-year-old programme as she will be the show's first permanent female presenter.

The announcement came in a column for BBC Sport in which she shared: "When I was a kid, I would never have watched television and thought someone like me could be presenting a programme like Football Focus. For the BBC to trust me with this role and allow me to be my true, authentic self means a lot."

Photo credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage - Getty Images
Photo credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage - Getty Images

On Twitter, she shared a video announcement she made on the BBC Sport page adding: "Omg... may just let out a little scream. It’s finally out there and now it all feels real!!"

In the clip she said herself "excited and honoured" to take on the role: "It's not lost on me one bit, because I know how iconic this show is and what a big deal it is."

She then thanked Dan Walker for "being an amazing host for all these years, but I think for me, being the amazing human that you are, knowing that many years ago telling you that I wanted to be in a position such as this and you taking the time to help me develop, hone my skills and get to this position.

"So I will be forever grateful for that," she added.

After thanking her other colleagues and the fans for reaching out and congratulate her, she also said: "For me, it’s really humbling to read the messages of support that you’ve all sent across, so thank you."

The former Arsenal and England full-back retired from playing in 2018 and started dedicating herself to her career as a broadcaster.

She took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2019, where she finished in fifth place, as well as hosting The One Show.


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