BBC Bitesize reveals the team behind Match of the Day
Behind the scenes of the BBC’s flagship football show
With its iconic theme tune, long established slot in the weekend TV schedule and expert analysis, Match of the Day remains the BBC’s most famous football programme. Each week the team broadcasts not one but two episodes bringing viewers the latest talking points from the Premier League.
Putting the live broadcast together is a large operation. BBC Bitesize Careers went behind the scenes on a busy Sunday afternoon to meet a small number of people involved and find out how they got their jobs on the legendary show.
What jobs are there on Match of the Day?
From production management assistants to make up artists, assistant producers to pundits, the programme relies on a wide range of roles each week. That is before the director, producer, editor, production co-ordinator, vision-mixer, sound engineer and studio floor manager, among others.
Every role requires a different set of skills and knowledge, with loving football not an essential requirement.
Pundit Joe Hart is quoted on why he enjoys the work: “I’ve always liked talking about football…it’s something I’m hugely passionate about.”
Different routes into sports broadcasting
With a huge number of roles needed to get a live sports programme on screen, the Match of the Day staff spoken to by Bitesize Careers all had different routes into the industry.
Some took the apprenticeship route whilst others followed their passion for a subject and went on to study it at university. Others worked in areas away from sport and broadcasting, gaining different work experience along the way.
The feature stresses there is no one set way in, and that following a passion can be a good place to start, even if careers change or move into unexpected parts of the industry along the way.
Follow Your Passion campaign
The piece is part of BBC Bitesize Careers’ Follow Your Passion campaign, launched in partnership with The Open University, exploring how passions and interests can inform future jobs with a focus on football careers.