NFL on 5: Dermot O'Leary talks fan backlash and reveals what we can expect from new show

NFL on 5 host Dermot O'Leary has revealed what UK viewers can expect from the new show after a shake-up to the coverage for the 2026 campaign.

The broadcaster remains the UK home of American football on free-to-air TV and will show two matches live every Sunday again this season – a 6pm UK time fixture on 5Action and a 9:25pm primetime kick-off on 5 – but has refreshed the format of its coverage, which proved divisive last year.

NFL Game Night on 5 mixed live match coverage with a game show featuring celebrity guests, and drew criticism from some UK fans of the sport, who were disappointed that expert analysis had been omitted in favour of mini-games, seemingly to attract the more casual viewer.

Changes have been made for the 2026 season, with a new name – NFL on 5 – and a refreshed format, which runs every Sunday from 9pm on 5 throughout the season and promises "expert analysis".

O'Leary returns as the host and will be joined by Sam Quek and Osi Umenyiora, as well as celebrity guests every week.

Speaking exclusively to Radio Times ahead of the launch of NFL on 5 on Sunday 13 September, he said: "Our whole thing is to try and make a show that entertains and informs, but at the same time, you inform with a level and degree of respect for NFL fans, such as myself, who don't need to be taught that, you know, you've got four chances to go 10 yards.

"At the same time, I'm in there because I am a fan and I'm not a sports broadcaster with a capital S. What I like about our coverage and the identity of the show is that we've got Osi and Efe (Obada), guys that have played the game and, in Osi's case, won two Super Bowls.

"I'm so interested in what's going on in the players' minds, what it's like to work for a new coach, the mentality of the game and the traditions of the game. You know you're going to get great analysis of the game but for me, it's all about telling the story. I love sport because I love stories; I love the unpredictability. That's what I hope we bring into it."

And while there will be more of a focus on expert analysis, some of the elements from NFL Game Night on 5 will remain.

O'Leary explained: "I love the sofa games, the play-along games, anything general knowledge that people can play along with at home. And then the more knockabout stuff, there's less. We are going to go less trying to format it and more using our celeb panellists in the show.

"We learned so much last year and also I think having a year under your belt gives you a bit more confidence, a bit more certainty about what worked, what didn't work and who we are. You know your own DNA after a year.

"I think with any TV show, you try and make a show that you want to watch. If you start worrying too much about trying to please too many people all the time, you don't really become anything and your identity gets a little bit lost.

"If you work out what you want to do before you start and stick to that, then it normally ends quite well.

"The fact that it was recommissioned obviously means it was a success but, with a show like last year, you are going to have to work hard to win over those diehard fans because there's a level of analysis that they probably want.

"At the same time, I would hope that they know that it's good for the whole to put it on free-to-air TV – and to try and get a new audience in. And as a result, you have to cater to that audience too."

But though he learned a lot from last year, O'Leary has said he was unaware of how divisive the show was among NFL fans in the UK.

"Not particularly," he said. "Like I said, if you start going down that route, there lies madness.

"Anything new you do ever on TV is always divisive. You could literally do a show about crochet and there'd be people going, 'I can't believe they're doing crochet like that.'

"You are always going to get that and so you never please all the people all the time. You can never worry about it and you can't pander to it.

"You've got to try and make the best show that you can yourself and I think even diehard fans would acknowledge that if you bring a new audience to a game, that's only healthy for the sport we all love."

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Watch or stream for free on 5 – NFL on 5 airs from 5:30pm on Sunday 13 September.

The broadcaster will show live coverage of two NFL games every Sunday throughout the season, starting with Indianapolis Colts v Baltimore Ravens (5:30pm, 5Action) and Minnesota Vikings v Green Bay Packers (9pm, 5) this weekend.

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