Gary Lineker is returning to TV in his first role since he announced his unexpected exit from BBC's Match of the Day.
The former footballer and sports broadcaster will be in the celebrity line-up of ITV's new show The Assembly, which will feature a number of famous faces being interviewed by a panel of interviewees who are autistic, neurodivergent or have a learning disability.
Based on the French format that saw President Emmanuel Macron get playfully roasted, the upcoming series promises chaotic, heartwarming interviews where the celebrities may share different, more honest insights than they would in other contexts.
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Alongside Lineker, The Assembly will also star Doctor Who's David Tennant, former EastEnders legend (and Tennant's Rivals co-star) Danny Dyer, and singer Jade Thirlwall.
"We're delighted that such an esteemed group of famous faces have agreed to be part of this fresh and distinct format coming to ITV1 and ITVX soon," the director of Entertainment & Daytime at ITV, Katie Rawcliffe, said in a statement.
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"Gary, David, Jade and Danny's interviews with The Assembly all promise to be captivating, unmissable television with real warmth and we cannot wait to share it with our viewers."
Related: Gary Lineker reveals he was approached for Celebrity Big Brother
In November last year, Lineker announced he would step down from his role as presenter of Match of the Day after 25 years.
Despite exiting the football highlights show, Lineker is set to continue to work with the BBC, leading the 2026 World Cup coverage and hosting BBC Sport's coverage of the FA Cup in the 2025/26 season.
The presenter also remains on the MOTD Top Ten podcast, with the BBC hosting his The Rest Is Football podcast on BBC Sounds.
In January, the BBC confirmed that Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan would take over Match of the Day starting from next season.
The Assembly will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player later in the year.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
