England star Alex Scott to be new Question of Sport host

Gary Lineker has congratulated Alex Scott on being appointed the new host of BBC quiz show A Question of Sport, describing her as "perfectly qualified" for the role.

The former England football player is set to replace Sue Barker on A Question of Sport following a total overhaul of the 50-year-old panel show.

Ms Barker has presented the panel show since 1997, but the former tennis player and veteran broadcaster left the role after 24 years in a rethink of the programme.

The decision to remove Ms Barker prompted accusations of ageism by the corporation, but Lineker said that viewers criticising Ms Scott's appointment were “part of the problem”.

Long-standing team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell have also been dropped from a Question of Sport as the BBC seeks to court an elusive younger demographic.

Her Match of the Day colleague Lineker revealed the former Arsenal right-back Ms Scott was joining the revamped shows as offered his congratulations online, calling her “smart, knowledgeable and perfectly qualified for the role.”

He added in his Twitter post: “If you have a problem with Alex getting the job, you might just be part of the problem.”

Scott has provided punditry for sports coverage on the BBC, BT Sports, and Sky, where she became the first female pundit for the Super Sunday show.

In 2019 the former defender was partnered with profesional Neil Jones on Strictly Come Dancing, and the pair finished fifth overall.

The move to draft Scott for A Question of Sport follows recent attempts to appeal to a youthful audience the BBC fears will drift to new media and streaming rivals Netflix.

Children’s news service Newsround launched Youtube channel to compete with the pull of online entertainment, and Radio 4’s Women’s Hour lost two of its veteran presenters in as many months before Emma Barnett took the helm.

Media regulator Ofcom warned the corporation in 2019 that it needed a "clear plan to meet the needs of younger and diverse audiences".

The watchdog added that BBC executive must: “Set out bolder plans to connect with younger viewers and listeners."

This followed a worrying trend for public service broadcasters which entailed youthful consumers seeking their news online, and their entertainment through web platforms and streaming services.

Netflix has become a major lure for younger viewers and the BBC has attempted to compete with the US giant

However in new director-general Tim Davie’s first speech in the role he had promised the corporation would not bend to an “ obsession with youth”.