'I don’t want to be Gary Lineker': Kelly Cates on Sky, Match of the Day and social media

Presenter on mixing Sky and BBC duties, the benefits of a conversational style and replacing a legend

Kelly Cates, presenting on Sky Sports. File picture: Carl Recine/Getty

Kelly Cates is about to begin the busiest year of her career. That, to be fair, is an estimate, because the football presenter and broadcaster has always been a grafter. From Setanta Sports to Channel 5 there are few places where she has not applied her blend of deep knowledge and emotional warmth, and as of this weekend she will be the face of the BBC’s and Sky’s coverage of the Premier League.

The action gets under way at a second home, Anfield, from where Cates will host Sky’s Friday Night Football coverage of Liverpool v Bournemouth. This follows two preview shows for the BBC, and precedes her first shift on Match of the Day.