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Mark Lawrenson takes aim at ‘woke’ BBC over the reason they gave to sack him

Mark Lawrenson takes aim at ‘woke’ broadcaster BBC over the reason they gave to surprisingly sack him earlier this summer.

The former Match of the Day regular claims he was axed because he is a 65-year-old white male, departing his role at the end of last season with little fanfare, despite a 30-year stint at the broadcaster.

He has opened up on the BBC’s decision, believing bosses are “frightened to death” of upsetting their audience, although insists he was never told he could not say something.

Lawrenson isn’t happy with the way his departure was handled, recalling the time he was asked to attend a meeting in Manchester over a phone call, but sensed that he was being let go and asked for the news to be given there and then.

“I am like, ‘Just tell me now what you are going to tell me’. I didn’t want to drive 50 miles to Manchester for somebody to tell me over a cup of coffee I am not working next year,” he told The Times.

Asked why he was let go, Lawrenson said: “Well, I’m 65 and a white male. So, you know…”

Lawro says he spent a lot of time wondering if he could use certain phrases. Lawrenson believes the BBC is too scared of offending its audience.

He added: “In all my time at the BBC, nobody ever said you can’t say this or that, but the woke thing drives me bonkers. Whereas normally you would say the first thing that comes into your head, you’re now thinking, ‘If I say that will I get into trouble?’

“It was a bit like playing with your legs tied together. The BBC is the national broadcaster and I get that, but they are frightened to death of upsetting anybody.”

Lawrenson remembers one moment in 1997 when he noticed a change in how the BBC were behaving. He had been commentating on a Bradford City match soon after the death of Princess Diana, and alleges that he was told not to mention the word ‘wall’ at a free-kick following the crash involving the popular royal.

“The editor of the programme came over on the cans and said, ‘Any free kicks around the penalty area tonight, please don’t mention the wall. I don’t remember who I was commentating with, but I asked him, ‘Is that for real?’ and he said, ‘Oh yeah, that’s for real,’” Lawrenson continued.

“You are working with editors who are probably in their mid-20s. You can talk in between the bits that are on TV at the time and you can have a joke about something and they’ll say, ‘Don’t say that.’ And I am thinking, ‘I’ve been here for 20-odd years, I think I might know what to say and what not to say.’ ”

Before scaling down duties in recent years, Lawrenson was a regular co-commentator for England matches with John Motson. He covered six World Cups in total, but adds the BBC’s head of football told him in March that he was no longer needed. He now gives his predictions over on the Paddy Power blog.

Lawrenson told The Sunday Times: ‘The Beeb are probably the worst at giving you bad news. It was just, “We are going on the road next season with Focus. We don’t think it is really something for you.”

‘I haven’t watched the programme since to see if they have gone on the road. They forget you are an ex-footballer and could get subbed or dropped or transferred. Somebody could say to me, “I’m sorry, it’s not good news.’ And I would say, “OK, just tell me what it is.”

‘I just wish they had said to me at the start of my contract last year, ‘You’ve had a great run, thanks very much and you are not working next season.”‘

Lawrenson reckons he should have thought about leaving the show when host Dan Walker departed his hosting duties after 12 years in 2021.

While initially frustrated with Walker’s replacement, ex-England and Arsenal player Alex Scott, he came around to supporting her.

‘Alex was just thrown in, so from the outset we were trying to make the programme as easy as possible for her,’ he said.

‘It was a little bit frustrating because she would ask you a question and then move on to the next person and I would want to say something I had just thought of, but I just had to shut up because she was just learning.

‘She has done well in fairness to her and she is a lovely kid. It’s a tough gig, because Dan was so good. Some people just don’t want her to be any good, but she has gotten better and better.’

Lawrenson revealed: ‘In all my time at the BBC, nobody ever said you can’t say this or that, but the woke thing drives me bonkers.

‘Whereas normally you would say the first thing that comes into your head, you’re now thinking, “If I say that will I get into trouble?” It was a bit like playing with your legs tied together.

‘The BBC is the national broadcaster and I get that, but they are frightened to death of upsetting anybody.’

SEE MORE: Paul Merson reveals the real reason behind Matt Le Tissier’s sacking by Sky Sports

The BBC and Sky Sports have both had big changes when it comes to their on-screen personalities in recent years. Lawrenson’s friend and former Liverpool teammate Phil Thompson was got rid of from the latter’s Soccer Saturday programming.

Lawrenson said: ‘I spoke to Tommo and it caught him completely by surprise. Is the show any better? No. Not as good? Yeah. It was just a strange, strange thing to do. Now they go around and do theatres and they’re packed out.’

Lawrenson is set to enjoy a farewell lunch with the BBC and 20 guests, something he is keen to embrace after his love of his three decades with the corporation.

This is how social media reacted as Mark Lawrenson takes aim at ‘woke’ broadcaster BBC over the reason they gave to sack him…

@jimborfc1: This is very well believable. The same happened to the top pundits on Gillette soccer Saturday

@mjdo27: True. Replaced with people like Kris Boyd, Michael Dawson, Jamie Mackie it’s a disgrace ain’t it …

@AlanDav17388002: Sacked because you’re a poor pundit simple

@Stretfordend79: He’s right

@KevinLanaghan: Stole a living for 30 years, worst pundit ever to be put on air . Always sounded like he was doing us a favour by letting us hear his inane ramblings. I can’t remember one substantial thing he did in his broadcasting career. Great player in his day though.

@ST_GT_04: Your 65 you’ve had a good run and done a good job. Probs just want younger blokes to do the job.

@AMcKellar89: I’d suggest it was perhaps more because he was a miserable, joyless, negative commentator who gave the impression he’d rather be anywhere else when commentating on football.

@CaptPtr_Skellen: How he got 3 month never mind 30yrs I’ll never know.

@TFMick1892: He was really boring and joyless

@mlkeightley: In fairness I think there’s more to it than that but the point he makes about the BBC & Sky is spot on. It’s almost comical how they try to tick every box when it comes to the pundits they use. Soccer Saturday is barely worth watching now.

@MccaTrigga: Ought to be more appreciative of 30 years getting paid to be an awful, dour broadcaster. Utterly forgetful pundit

@pedro1892: He added little insight and was from another era. The coverage is more vibrant and much improved without him. He’s bitter, which is understandable, it’s a human reaction.

@JohnHall1985: I’m not a fan of Lawrenson but you can’t help but agree with him to an extent.

@marcwithac33: He’s right. Not a great pundit but BBC were happy with him for 30 years as they know nothing themselves. It’s definitely because they’re woke and he doesn’t tick the box.

@skinnerreborn: True. Plus he wasn’t very good tbf.

@Sholas_bike: Normally I would agree because sky sports have done similar with there pundits.but any excuse to get this man off TV screens

@Markkelly63: Mark, you are way better than this! You have been excellent and a joy to watch and listen too – thank you! But there are many other pundits, offering something different. All the best pal!

@GaryMaylin10: He overlooks the fact that he only got the role because he was 40 and a white male.

@Mightymj1: Was 30 years not enough? Somebody should tell him he was lucky to have lasted as long as he did. One of the most miserable and dull broadcasters in the game. Woke? The man sounded as if he was asleep most of the time.

@kevonhissoapbox: Oh, please. “Lawro” was okay in his day, but his nudge nudge wink wink style was more suited to the Saint and Greavsie era. It’s inexplicable how he lasted this long, given he has been making the same jokes for 30 years! #lawro

@MattTay38212365: Fair play for calling it as it is. I’ve absolutely no problem with the heavy influx of Female and Black presenters and pundits – just want them selected based on ability! Unfortunately the majority aren’t – ie Jenas, Agbonlahor, Richards, Sinclair etc etc

@TartoonArmy: Absolutely nothing at all to do with the fact he was a miserable, clichéd twat with dad-joke banter then.

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