Match Of The Day viewing figures up half a million amid Lineker impartiality row

Sports pundits have held a protest in support of Gary Lineker (Ian Walton/PA)

Match Of The Day was watched by about half a million more viewers on Saturday than last weekend’s show as it aired without commentary or analysis from pundits following a boycott in “solidarity” with Gary Lineker.

The BBC One football highlights programme had an average audience of 2.6 million on Saturday night compared with the 2.1 million viewers who tuned in last Saturday, according to BBC overnight figures.