[JACKLUFC1998]

See BBC3 will be showing some of the BBC's next few super league matches. Is this the first time the channel has a live club rugby match of either code?

[Brekkie]

I think BBC3 might have shown a Barbarians Rugby Union game or an Under 20 or Womens Six Nations fixture in the past, but certainly not something they've shown much of.

[RhysJR]

Dame Denise Lewis is set to still be a pundit for the BBC at the World Indoor Athletics Championships next week, despite now being President of UK Athletics.

Personally I think this is a mistake. When Dame Katherine Granger was the BBC's studio pundit at Tokyo 2020 whilst being the president of UK Sport, her analysis of the subpar performance of the British rowing squad had to be very tame was obviously compromised; I fear any critical coverage would be as substandard next week.

UK Athletics have already come under fire for turning down invitations for some athletes who have qualified via the world rankings rather than the more traditional qualifying time method. I fear the BBC analysis of this will be issued with a governing body mouthpiece as part of their team. With it being a home world championships, I hope Michael Johnson will travel over, as his criticism of the sport is often honest and unfiltered, something that should be needed next week.

www.thetimes.co.uk 

Denise Lewis set to be BBC pundit in Glasgow amid integrity concerns
Former Olympic heptathlon champion is the president of UK Athletics but is still…
  Source: www.thetimes.co.uk

[cityprod]

Dame Denise Lewis is set to still be a pundit for the BBC at the World Indoor Athletics Championships next week, despite now being President of UK Athletics.

Personally I think this is a mistake. When Dame Katherine Granger was the BBC's studio pundit at Tokyo 2020 whilst being the president of UK Sport, her analysis of the subpar performance of the British rowing squad had to be very tame was obviously compromised; I fear any critical coverage would be as substandard next week.

UK Athletics have already come under fire for turning down invitations for some athletes who have qualified via the world rankings rather than the more traditional qualifying time method. I fear the BBC analysis of this will be issued with a governing body mouthpiece as part of their team. With it being a home world championships, I hope Michael Johnson will travel over, as his criticism of the sport is often honest and unfiltered, something that should be needed next week.

www.thetimes.co.uk 

Like this is any kind of issue. For many years, both John Barrett & Andrew Castle have been commentators at Wimbledon, despite both having been presidents of the All England Club. This is a complete nothing burger of a story.

[Brekkie]

John Inverdale had to step down when he became involved in the RFU and Clare Balding has stayed away from rugby league coverage whilst she was president of the RFL too, so the precedent is there.

[Newshound47]

Katherine Grainger was on air for the first week of Tokyo and by the end of the Games in Tokyo was doing official duties so it was a very short stepping down.

---

Like this is any kind of issue. For many years, both John Barrett & Andrew Castle have been commentators at Wimbledon, despite both having been presidents of the All England Club. This is a complete nothing burger of a story.

Tim Henmen as well - the fact he is on the committee is often mentioned as part of the coverage. Through of course he is still able to freely critique individual players without controversy but can Dame Denise Lewis when she is on the board with those who decide who is selected and has involvement in selecting coaches and training venues.

[JACKLUFC1998]

I think BBC3 might have shown a Barbarians Rugby Union game or an Under 20 or Womens Six Nations fixture in the past, but certainly not something they've shown much of.

They showed a couple of games (I think both involving Ireland?) at the last Rugby League World Cup too.

[excel99]

With it being a home world championships, I hope Michael Johnson will travel over, as his criticism of the sport is often honest and unfiltered, something that should be needed next week.

Unfortunately he isn't listed as a pundit in the BBC programme descriptions for next week
www.bbc.co.uk 

BBC Two - Athletics: World Indoor Championships - Episode guide
All episodes of Athletics: World Indoor Championships
  Source: www.bbc.co.uk

[Brekkie]

Ugo Monye on punditry for BBC today - think he had that role on ITV a couple of weeks back.

[Bungo Bill]

Jill is one of the best.

Incidentally, it looks like Jill will miss the final on Sunday as she is scheduled to present France v. Italy in the Six Nations on ITV 1. The wording on the programme information suggests to me that will be from Ealing, with Ireland v. Wales being presented from Dublin. With no England on ITV this week, Miles Harrison suprisingly gets the bigger game in Ireland v. Wales, with Nick Mullins covering France v. Italy.

Over on the BBC, Dylan Hartley will be the English representation in the commentary box for their only England game of the year v. Scotland.

www.itv.com 

www.bbc.co.uk 

www.itv.com 

Rishi Persad is hosting the snooker tomorrow. Not a bad back-up!