Who is commentating Hull City v Middlesbrough? TV channel and live coverage for Championship play-off final

Match date: 23 May 2026

Who is commentating Hull City v Middlesbrough? TV channel and live coverage for Championship play-off final

The Championship play-off final is here, with Hull City and Middlesbrough meeting at Wembley for one of the most lucrative games in English football. For viewers in the UK, the match is being shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with kick-off at 3:30pm BST. Sky’s coverage is once again the main domestic broadcast, while fans outside Britain can also find the final on a range of international services including Paramount+, beIN Sports and Disney+ depending on territory.

Sky’s live production will be fronted by David Prutton, a familiar face to Championship viewers. The former Southampton midfielder enjoyed a lengthy career in the English game before moving into broadcasting, where he has become one of Sky Sports’ most recognisable presenters and analysts. On commentary duties is Gary Weaver, whose voice has become closely associated with major EFL and Premier League occasions over the years. His big-match delivery has made him a regular on Sky’s football coverage, particularly when the stakes are at their highest.

Alongside them on the main Sky broadcast will be Jobi McAnuff, Tommy Smith, Curtis Davies and Gary Rowett as pundits, giving the coverage a blend of recent playing experience and tactical insight. Emma Saunders and Jonathan Oakes are among the reporters providing updates from Wembley, while Mike Dean contributes as the former official. Dean, one of the most experienced referees of the modern era, has become a regular voice in television analysis since retiring from on-field duties.

For those following on radio, there is extensive BBC local coverage from both sides of the divide. BBC Radio Humberside is led by presenter James Hoggarth, with Mike White on commentary and Peter Swan alongside him. Across the Tees, BBC Radio Tees has Paul Addison presenting, Mark Drury as main commentator and former Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison as co-commentator. That local radio split always adds a fascinating extra layer to a final like this, reflecting the passion on both sides of the North East and East Yorkshire divide.

There is also talkSPORT coverage, with Adrian Durham presenting, Sam Matterface on commentary and Dean Ashton joined by Alan Pardew as co-commentators. Clive Tyldesley is the lead commentator for Paramount+ in the United States, paired with Robert Green and joined by pundits including Nigel Reo-Coker, Mike Grella and Troy Deeney. Tyldesley remains one of the most decorated football commentators in British broadcasting, known for his long spell on ITV and his association with some of the most memorable nights in club and international football.

ITV’s EFL highlights programme will also have a role after the final, with Hugh Woozencroft presenting and Gary Weaver again on commentary, while Mike Dean returns as the former official. Woozencroft has established himself as one of the more polished newer names in football broadcasting after moving into television following his radio work, and he has become increasingly visible across British sport output.

If you want to follow the match digitally, there are multiple streaming options around the world, including Astro GO, DAZN Canada, Disney+ in various territories, and beIN Sports platforms in parts of Asia and Oceania. The breadth of coverage underlines the global appeal of the Championship play-off final, which is often described as the richest single game in football because promotion to the Premier League can transform a club’s finances overnight. More background on the competition can be found on the English Football League Championship official site.

With Wembley set, the broadcast teams are in place and the tension is building. Whether you are watching on Sky Sports, listening to BBC local radio or following through one of the international platforms, this is the sort of occasion where every word, every replay and every analysis point matters. Hull and Middlesbrough both arrive with Premier League dreams, and the coverage should reflect the size of the prize.

Article generated: 23 May 2026, 15:01 GMT