Alan Shearer, the former Newcastle legend and England international, has announced that he will be co-commentating during England’s matches at Euro 2024. This comes as a surprise, as Shearer was not part of the BBC’s commentary team during Euro 2020 and instead worked as a pundit. His inclusion in the co-commentary role marks a significant change for the broadcaster.
During a recent episode of The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer joined Gary Lineker, Micah Richards, and others to discuss their various TV roles. They were asked to rank the difficulty of being a presenter, pundit, commentator, and co-commentator. This led to a lighthearted banter segment and seems to have set the scene for the BBC’s coverage of the Euros.
Richards suggested that co-commentators need to rely on their instincts, to which Shearer jokingly responded, “Does that mean I will be getting hammered for doing the co-comms in the England games in the Euros?” The panel laughed at his remark, but it raises an interesting point about the pressure and scrutiny that comes with being a co-commentator.
Shearer is primarily known for his studio punditry, but he does have experience in commentary. With his new role as a co-commentator, it appears that he will be calling the action during England’s quest to win their first trophy since the 1966 World Cup. This is an exciting development for fans who have enjoyed Shearer’s insights as a pundit and now have the opportunity to hear his analysis during live matches.
The BBC has not yet commented on Shearer’s involvement in their Euro 2024 broadcasting. However, this announcement adds a fresh dynamic to their coverage and could provide viewers with a unique perspective from a former England international and Premier League record goalscorer.
It will be interesting to see how Shearer transitions into his role as a co-commentator and how he will bring his expertise and knowledge of the game to the live broadcasts. While he may face scrutiny and potential criticism, Shearer’s track record suggests that he will excel in this new role. Fans can look forward to hearing his insights and analysis during England’s matches in Euro 2024.