Gary Lineker to host ITV’s The Box

Gary Lineker will host ITV's new entertainment series The Box, a celebrity game show featuring ten contestants transported in yellow boxes.

Gary Lineker named ITV host for The Box

ITV has announced Gary Lineker will host The Box, a new entertainment series in which ten celebrities compete in unusual games. Contestants are transported in yellow boxes to an undisclosed location and must quickly learn the rules of unfamiliar games while staying competitive. Each week the two lowest scorers face off in The Duel, with one contestant losing their place in the lineup.

ITV management described Lineker as the perfect fit for the show and said the format will be entertaining, exhilarating and immersive. Filming is planned before the end of the year for a 2026 premiere. The project marks Lineker's first major deal since leaving Match of the Day, a move Tim Davie says reflects his status as a defining voice in UK sports coverage. Rumors of the new format have circulated ahead of the official confirmation as ITV bets on a bold schedule replacement for Saturday Night Takeaway.

The Box shows ITV betting on a bold, celebrity-driven format to stand out in a crowded schedule. Lineker’s star power could draw viewers from football and general audiences, but the gimmick must be backed by strong gameplay to avoid fade after the initial novelty.

The move also tests ITV’s ability to package familiar names with fresh concepts. If the show lands, it could reshape ITV’s entertainment slate and invite comparisons with established light entertainment formats. If it misses, the network faces questions about the pace of new ideas and the resilience of celebrity-led formats in a changing TV landscape.

Highlights

Television thrives on bold bets and The Box could become ITV's next talking point.