Dion Dublin admits he was ‘surprised’ to see BBC co-star Dan Walker leave Football Focus

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Football Focus presenter Dion Dublin, 52, has revealed he was taken aback when his co-star Dan Walker, 44, announced his decision to leave the BBC programme this year. BBC Breakfast and Strictly Come Dancing star Dan has now been replaced by Alex Scott, 36, after fronting the show for 12 years.

When quizzed on whether he was surprised to see Dan leave his Football Focus role behind, Dion said in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk: “Yes I was, I was surprised to see him go.

“I think Dan is brilliant, he’s great – his sense of humour, his sporting knowledge, he makes it about the product not about himself, and all good presenters do this. 

“He just passes everything over to us, he just gives us something and basically says, ‘There you go, chat about that’. 

“I’d go as far as to say that Dan Walker is a brilliant, brilliant presenter.”

Sharing his opinion on Alex stepping in as Dan’s replacement, Dion added: “Alex Scott has come in now to do Football Focus in the place of Dan.

“And Alex, I don’t know how she’s done this, she’s gone from being a good presenter, to being a very, very good presenter in a short space of time and she’s still learning.

“She’s only young, she’s not long retired, and she’s got the Football Focus gig, and the more she does it, the better she’ll get.”

Alex began getting into presenting after she retired from her career as a professional footballer, during which she played for both England and Arsenal.

 

Dion went on to reveal that he gave Alex some words of advice before she joined the Football Focus team.

He explained: “I speak to Alex all the time and if there’s any advice I can give her, I will give her. 

“She listens all the time, she’s a very good listener and she will be a very, very good presenter for Football Focus. 

“She knows that she’s got a very, very big gig, but she’s confident and I’m confident that she’ll smash it out the park.”

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Dion continued: “She’s been brilliant, to retire and then take on the world of media and presenting so quickly, I mean, being as beautiful as she is and as confident as she is, that helps.

“But if you’re as knowledgeable as Scottie, and you know the game as well as Scottie, then you’ve got a chance at having a long career in presenting, which I’m sure she’ll have.

“And she’ll always have my support.”

Dan left Football Focus in May after sharing a tearful goodbye on air.

Dan was given a warm farewell from his colleagues and well-known names in football.

The broadcaster was left feeling overwhelmed by the support, as he explained he hadn’t expected it.

He then said in a speech: “This show has been so important to me. I’ve worked on Focus actually nearly half my life.

“I’ve presented it for more than a quarter of it and there’s so much about it I will miss.”

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