Lineker and McIntyre experience Spurs’ derby defeat in isolation
Gary Lineker and comedian Michael McIntyre uncovered Tottenham Hotspur’s north London derby humiliation in a manner arguably more painful than watching the defeat unfold live, after being shut away from all match coverage as part of a new Sky Sports concept, reports BritPanorama.
Spurs were thrashed 4–1 by Arsenal at the Emirates, with Eberechi Eze scoring a devastating hat-trick. Lineker and McIntyre were left to learn the result only after the final whistle in a controlled reveal that captured their shock and dismay.
The pair participated in a forthcoming programme called In The Box, a format that isolates selected supporters from both clubs in a sealed room without phone access or live broadcasts. Fans are fed small fragments of information-teasers, still images, and cryptic clues throughout the match.
Only at full-time is the full score announced. For this episode, Lineker, a former Spurs striker, and McIntyre, one of Britain’s most well-known Tottenham fans, faced Arsenal followers experiencing the same suspense.
Sky Sports released a clip of the experiment shortly after the derby concluded. The footage shows both sets of supporters given minimal insight into the game as it progressed, including a still image of Declan Rice missing a clear first-half chance.
With nothing else to go on, the groups could only speculate, cling to hope, or assume the worst. Hopes on both sides persisted until the final countdown revealed the scoreline, and the reaction was nothing short of brutal.
As soon as “Arsenal 4–1 Tottenham” flashed up, the room erupted into contrasting scenes: jubilant Arsenal fans celebrated wildly, while Lineker and McIntyre stood motionless, disappointment etched on their faces.
Lineker’s emotional response was unsurprising given his links to Tottenham. Although now widely recognized as a broadcaster and self-confessed Leicester City supporter, he scored 80 goals in 138 games during his three-year spell at Spurs from 1989 to 1992, winning the FA Cup with the club in 1991. McIntyre, whose stand-up tours regularly sell out across the UK, has long professed his allegiance to Tottenham, making him a fitting candidate for the show.
The derby itself offered little comfort for any Spurs supporter. Arsenal dominated from the start, with Leandro Trossard forcing the opener before Eze took control with a decisive hat-trick. Tottenham only threatened once when Richarlison scored a long-range consolation, by which point the match had long slipped away from them.
Sky Sports pundits reacted to the clip immediately after the full-time broadcast. Former Tottenham striker Les Ferdinand voiced his displeasure: “Tottenham were that bad today. It was embarrassing to watch,” suggesting that Lineker and McIntyre had been spared from witnessing the defeat in real time. “Halfway through this game, I was hoping I could go ‘in the box’ with Michael McIntyre. I didn’t want to watch it anymore.”
“You can’t come to Arsenal in the north London derby and not put everything on the line.” Tottenham will seek a return to winning ways when they face defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday night, while Arsenal will take on Bayern Munich at the same time.
In football, where sentiment often meets harsh reality, this derby served not just as a test of skill but a reminder of the emotional stakes involved, encapsulating the intense rivalry and the heartache of its supporters.
