BBC axes The Women's Football Show as £80m cuts reshape sports coverage

The BBC has cancelled The Women’s Football Show, its flagship BBC One highlights programme for the women’s game, with the new Women’s Super League season set to begin on Friday, 4 August. The decision forms part of a broader £80 million cost-cutting drive announced by new director general Matt Brittin, which has already claimed Football Focus after 52 years on air.

Despite the cancellation, the BBC insists it remains committed to women’s football. A spokesperson said: “BBC Sport remains fully committed to women’s football and the WSL. As we build towards the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, audiences will be able to watch highlights from every WSL match across BBC platforms, including iPlayer, YouTube and the BBC Sport website and app. The broadcaster is also developing a YouTube chat show about women’s football to be presented by former Arsenal and England star Alex Scott, with sources describing the format as being in the style of Gary Neville’s The Overlap.

The Guardian reported that the decision has disappointed several BBC Sport insiders and came as a surprise to many staff, with those who worked on the show last season saying they learned of its cancellation without prior warning.

Earlier in 2026, Football Focus was replaced by The Football Interview, fronted by presenter Kelly Somers, after more than half a century as a Saturday lunchtime fixture on British television.