Gary Lineker and Match of the Day a liferaft of normality in choppy seas of life

SILVER FOX: Gary Lineker’s great quality, almost impossible in football, is to not be divisive, out-moded, or annoying. He knows how to walk the line between over the top and understated; enthusiastic but with perspective. Picture: Daniele Badolato/Getty Images

It’s one more Saturday night. The theme tune plays — officially the most recognised theme tune in the UK’s history — and there he is, smiling. We are in our happy place once again.

The same place many of us have been in over 5,000 times since 1964 as we watch Match Of The Day, the longest-running football programme in the world, a ship which for 22 years has been captained by Gary Lineker, steering it through a changing football landscape with a light hand on the presenting tiller, his style and performance, unlike his Twitter feed, largely taken for granted and unremarked upon.