Fatboy Slim leads celebrity support for Gary Lineker amid BBC row as the DJ hoists a huge banner during the performance

Celebrities and football clubs have shown their support for Gary Lineker following his row with the BBC.

The popular TV presenter has had to step down from hosting the Match of the Day due to comments about the UK government’s new asylum policy.

As a result, BBC staff took part in a mass boycott of the flagship show, in which Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Alex Scott, Micah Richards and Jermaine Jenas revealed they would not be involved.

With commentators also withdrawing and players and managers refusing to interview the Beeb, Football Focus, Final Score, Five Live Sport and the Fighting Talk radio show were also dropped from the schedule.

Therefore, talkSPORT is the only place to follow this weekend’s soccer action on the radio.

A BBC spokesman said in a statement: “Some of our experts have said they do not wish to appear on the show while we try to resolve the situation with Gary. We understand their position and have decided that the program will focus on match action with no studio presentation of expert knowledge.”

But it’s not just BBC staff who are throwing their support behind Lineker.

Even DJ Fatboy slim participated with a show in support of the presenter during a performance on Friday night.

Talk TV presenter Piers Morgan threw his support behind his friend, saying: “I’m never asked to host @BBCMOTD or appear, but if I ever were I’d tell the BBC to push up their freedom of expression by asking a* *. #IStandWithJugs.”

Comedian Julian Clary shared a similar view, saying: “Before you ask, no I won’t be #MOTD, I stand by Gary Lineker. Hit her where it hurts.”

Bristol Rovers were among the first clubs to react when the League One side tweeted: “We will not be speaking to the BBC before or after tonight’s game.”

TV presenter Carol Vorderman shared video from outside BBC HQ of a statue of George Orwell’s quotes carved into the wall, saying: “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they don’t want to hear.”

But the most grandiose gesture came from Fatboy Slim, who paid tribute in his own way to Lineker by beaming a giant image of his face onto a banner during a performance and encouraging those in attendance to applaud in support.

With BBC coverage halted, talkSPORT is the only place on radio to catch live updates of Saturday’s Premier League action.

The day begins with expert commentary and analysis throughout the day, starting with Bournemouth v Liverpool at 12:30pm.

talkSPORT 2 will be broadcast live from Tottenham v Nottingham Forest at 15:00 as Adrian Durham guides you around the grounds and offers the classified results across England at Central Station.

We also offer players and managers exclusive post-game access, with no opinion censorship.