Sky Sports is reportedly poised to reinstate a fan-favourite program to its weekend football schedule. The long-running roundtable discussion show, known as `**Sunday Supplement**`, is understood to be making a return to television screens after a notable absence of nearly five years.
First airing in 1999 under its initial title, `Hold The Back Page`, the show became a staple of Sunday mornings for viewers interested in in-depth analysis of the week`s football news, primarily debated by leading sports journalists. Over its two-decade initial run, which concluded on TV in 2020, the program was hosted by prominent figures including the late Jimmy Hill, Brian Woolnough, and Neil Ashton.
Following its discontinuation from broadcast, the `Sunday Supplement` format continued its existence in the realm of podcasts. This transition arguably kept the concept alive and demonstrated a persistent appetite among the audience for this specific style of football commentary – one where the focus is on the media`s perspective and the stories dominating the back pages.
Now, after what must have been a period of careful consideration within the broadcasting giant, the decision has reportedly been made to bring the show back to linear television. In a move that might surprise precisely nobody who followed its podcast continuation, the program will retain its familiar name, `Sunday Supplement`, bypassing any potential rebranding efforts.
Perhaps the most significant change for the revived show will be its host. According to reports, veteran Sky Sports reporter **Dharmesh Sheth** is slated to take on presenting duties. Sheth is widely recognised for his extensive coverage of transfer news, a role he has performed for Sky for a substantial 27 years. His appointment suggests a potential desire to inject a well-connected, insider perspective into the weekly journalistic panel.
Sheth himself has acknowledged the opportunity, stating, “To be given the opportunity to present the show is all a bit surreal. And I can`t wait to get started.” Given his long tenure and deep immersion in the football news cycle, particularly the often frantic world of transfers, his transition to hosting a discussion on media coverage seems a logical, if perhaps not the most “surprise” choice for someone dedicated to the company for nearly three decades.
The format is expected to largely follow the established pattern: a panel of newspaper journalists joining the host to review and debate the key events and narratives shaping the football landscape from their unique perspective. The return of `Sunday Supplement` will likely be welcomed by those who valued its specific focus on the journalistic angle of the sport`s weekly developments.
