Football League Tonight

Lore & Background

Channel 5 had covered football since its 1997 launch, including the Scottish League Cup, Serie A, the UEFA Europa League and international football, but Football on 5 had been off air for three years after losing Europa League rights. In May 2015, Channel 5 won a three-year deal to broadcast Football League and Football League Cup highlights from the 2015–16 season, succeeding the BBC's six-year run. The show aired at 9 pm, about 90 minutes before the typical Match of the Day slot.

Initially named Football League Tonight, the format included a studio audience and non-sequential division highlights, but the audience was scrapped mid-first season and the show reverted to showing Championship, then League One, then League Two. The title later changed to Football on 5. League Cup highlights were originally called Capital One Cup Tonight, then for 2016–17 became Football on 5: The EFL Cup.

Presenters for the 2015–16 season were George Riley and Kelly Cates from BBC Radio 5 Live; Lynsey Hipgrave replaced Cates the following season. In July 2017, break clauses were activated in Riley and Hipgrave's contracts, and Colin Murray replaced them for the 2017–18 season. Pundits included Adam Virgo, Michael Gray, Mark Bright, Gus Poyet, Alex McLeish, Jamie Cureton, Clinton Morrison, Chris Iwelumo and Karl Robinson.

Reader's Guide

Football League Tonight represented Channel 5's first foray into English domestic league football, filling the gap left by the BBC's The Football League Show. Its significance lies in providing a dedicated highlights platform for the English Football League and its cup competitions during a three-year period, though the broadcaster reportedly failed to attract enough viewers and chose not to renew its contract with the EFL. The programme's format evolved from an initial studio-audience setup to a more traditional division-by-division structure, and its title shifted from Football League Tonight to Football on 5. The show's legacy is as a transitional broadcaster of EFL highlights, succeeded by Quest's coverage. Its use of commentators from Sky Sports and Pitch International, along with a rotating panel of pundits, reflected a blend of existing football media talent. The programme's reception included criticism of Channel 5's coverage, and its inability to sustain viewership led to the end of the contract after the 2017–18 season.

Did You Know?

• The show was sponsored by Sky Bet, Ginsters and Evans Halshaw.
• Early episodes featured a studio audience, which was scrapped midway through the first season.
• League Cup highlights were originally broadcast under the name Capital One Cup Tonight.
• Colin Murray replaced George Riley and Lynsey Hipgrave for the 2017–18 season after break clauses were activated in their contracts.