Gary Lineker makes unexpected BBC return with appearance after fighting back tears

Gary Lineker has made an appearance on the BBC at Wimbledon on Friday.

The 64-year-old left his role as host of Match of the Day in May, having presented the BBC's iconic football highlights show for 26 years. His departure came after he shared a social media post which included a rat emoji, an animal historically used to represent Jews in antisemitic propaganda.

Lineker deleted the post and issued multiple apologies, but the decision was made for him to leave the BBC altogether a year earlier than planned. The former striker, who played forTottenham Hotspur among several other clubs, has now been spotted in the royal box at Wimbledon with BBC cameras showing him enjoying the action on centre court.

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The former England forward has hit out at the broadcaster over a documentary which they refused to air over impartiality concerns, resulting in backlash. 'Gaza: Doctors Under Attack' was commissioned and paid for by the BBC as the bloody Israel-Gaza conflict continues.

According to the Independent, it was given six different transmission dates across January and February but its premiere kept getting pushed back. Now Channel 4 has the rights to the documentary which was made by Basement Films.

At a screening on Thursday evening, Lineker gave his reaction while holding back tears. "One of the most important films I've ever seen, certainly the most moving. I might need a minute here," he told the audience.

"It needed to be seen. It really did need to be seen. I think everyone would agree with that. I think the BBC should hold its head in shame.

"I've worked for the corporation for 30 years; to see the way it's declined in the last year or two has been devastating really. I've defended it and defended it against claims that it is partial."

He added: "It talks about impartiality all the time. The truth is at the moment, at the very top of the BBC, not the BBC all over, because as you know there are thousands and thousands of people who work at the BBC that are good people that understand what is going on here and can see it.