Ex-Match of the Day presenter studying to become witch as doubts cast on replacing Lineker

A former presenter in the running to replace Gary Lineker as host has opened up on his bizarre new passion away from football: witchcraft.

England icon Lineker has confirmed he and will oversee the World Cup in 2026 before bowing out after 27 years in the job.

Mark Chapman has been mooted as the favourite to succeed Lineker along with BBC favourite Alex Scott. Amongst them is veteran broadcaster Adrian Chiles, who is only ranked as an outsider amongst bookmakers at 50/1 to land the gig despite hosting the show before.

He was a presenter for Match of the Day 2 coverage on Sundays and hosted The One Show on the BBC. The 57-year-old has also anchored ITV's coverage of England games at major tournaments before. However, he left the TV broadcaster in January 2015 and now works for BBC Radio 5 Live.

Chiles has recently opened up on his new hobby of learning more about witchcraft after making a recent purchase in his hometown of Halesowen.

"I passed a shop for witches," Chiles wrote in his column for "Witchy Supplies, it said on the sign. I did a double take... [and] risked another drive past and, yes, there it was, The Wicklow Witch. Candles, Crystals, Witchy Supplies.

"Later, I mentioned this place to a couple of friends who live and work in that area and they looked at me funny. What? A witches' supply shop? In Colley Gate? Are you sure? I wondered if I'd dreamed it.

"So when I collected the car, I risked another drive past and, yes, there it was. The Wicklow Witch. Candles, Crystals, Witchy Supplies.

"There, behind the counter, was the witch herself. I asked her if there were many witches, here in the Halesowen area. 'You'd be surprised,' she said. Actually, I wouldn't. I don't think anything is ever going to surprise me again."

Having once been traumatised by witches when watching The Wizard of Oz, it has emerged as one of his favourite pastimes after Chiles purchased a £12 book titled 'Basic Witches' by Jaya Saxena and Jess Zimmerman.

It came recommended from Juliet O'Brien, the woman behind the counter at the store - and the experienced presenter credits her with changing his opinions on witches.

"I'm thankful to this witch, the delightful Juliet O'Brien, for putting me right on a few things, not least that proper witches don't do bad things because they know such behaviour will only come back and haunt them," he added.

"Witches are a force only for good. I've been reading up on them in a book I bought from Juliet called 'Basic Witches' and I'm liking what I'm finding. I'm going back soon to pick up some crystals, seriously."