BBC SPOTY host Alex Scott’s life off screen including ‘plan to quit UK’ with popstar girlfriend
Alex Scott has enjoyed a successful career in television since retiring from football but has also had to deal with a number of challenges in her personal life
Alex Scott and Jess Glynne attend the Boss front row during Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026(Image: 2025 Dave Benett)
Former footballer Alex Scott, who played at the top level for Arsenal and England, has successfully transitioned into a television career since hanging up her boots. Now 41, she is the face of BBC’s iconic Football Focus and also will also host BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Thursday evening.
During her time on the pitch, she earned 140 caps for England and had stints with Boston Breakers and Birmingham City, in addition to her time with Arsenal. Her move into television was smooth, with her portfolio including this year’s Soccer Aid, where she shared the presenting stage with TV veteran Dermot O’Leary.
However, her post-playing career hasn’t been without its challenges. While she would have been accustomed to a certain level of fame as a player, her off-field activities since retirement have propelled her into the spotlight even more.
This was highlighted by her participation in the latest series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, where she was the first contestant to be voted out. It was later disclosed that she couldn’t attend the reunion due to a family emergency involving a relative of Jess Glynne – her partner.
Popstar girlfriend
Scott has been in a relationship with singer Glynne since 2023, with the couple making their relationship public in October of that year. They had been dating for two months prior to becoming an official item.
Despite her clear affection for Glynne and their shared desire to start a family, Scott has confessed to struggling with physical displays of love due to her relationship with her father, a claim that Tony, her father, has denied.
Alex Scott and Jess Glynne(Image: Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
“We weren’t allowed to express emotion,” Scott revealed in June 2024. “Dad didn’t allow us to hug each other or say, ‘I love you.’ It had a huge impact on us all.”
She recalled an early encounter with Jess: “I remember one of the first times Jess hugged me. I was like… {rigid]. She was like, ‘Are you not going to put your arms around me?’ But I didn’t know how to do that.”
Career setbacks and potential relocation
Scott faced professional disappointment when she was passed over by the BBC as they selected successors for Match of the Day following Gary Lineker’s departure. Despite being a strong contender with an impressive career portfolio, the coveted role went to Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan, who now share presenting duties on the BBC.
Adding fuel to the rumour mill, it’s been suggested that Scott and her partner Glynne are contemplating a move to the United States in search of fresh opportunities, following reports of her dissatisfaction with Football Focus.
The couple have been dating since 2023(Image: 2025 Jeff Spicer)
The Sun reported that Scott was ‘hurt’ by falling ratings for Football Focus. The former Arsenal player had previously addressed rumours of the show’s decline in 2023, defending its performance and asserting that the viewership remained robust.
A source revealed in 2024: “Alex is now seriously contemplating moving on from the show. Last year she was hugely hurt by unfair criticism about falling viewing figures – and felt she was thrown under a bus.”
The insider added: “The viewing figures were not as reported and she feels no-one backed her up and issued the correct viewing figures.”
The source further disclosed that Scott and Glynne were “contemplating a move to America.” Scott has previously characterised the United States as something of a sanctuary, indicating she enjoyed greater anonymity there. In her 2022 memoir ‘How (Not) To Be Strong’, Scott reflected: “In Boston, I didn’t have to be the strong one. I could just be.”
