MOTD viewers are just realising that Mark Chapman's real first name isn't Mark

Match of the Day has looked a little different this year. For the first time this century, the much-loved Premier League highlights show isn't being fronted by Gary Lineker. Instead, a rotating cast of Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman are in the hosting chairs instead.

Except that Mark is the name that the majority of Match of the Day viewers will know him by, but fewer people are aware that it isn't actually his real name! Instead, the new face (well, at least one of them) of Match of the Day has a completely different first name.

Chapman began his broadcast career in the mid-1990s and has since established himself as one of the most recognisable voices on radio and faces in sports television. Having covered some of sport's biggest events, including FIFA World Cups, Olympics, The Masters and the Premier League, Chapman was announced as part of the trio taking over from Lineker.

Famed for his no-nonsense Lancastrian charm, Chapman has gone by the nickname "Chappers" for the majority of his broadcasting career. But the Manchester United supporter's actual first name is Andrew instead of Mark. That being said, Mark is his middle name, which goes some way to explaining why he might've opted to go by the name.

Match of the Day fans were stunned after discovering this revelation, with viewers taking to social media to express their surprise. Speaking on X, one said: "Hold on... his name's Andrew? Since when??" While another joked: "I've been calling this man Mark for years. Turns out we've been on a nickname basis the whole time."

Chapman has taken to his role as one of the Match of the Day leads and spoke of his pride after being hired for the role. He said at the time: "This isn't about the three of us, it's about the three of us plus our pundits, plus our editors, plus our analysts and stats people and production people, radio and online. Genuinely, this is about all of us as a department working together.

"I know the history of a lot of radio programmes and TV programmes and I do feel honoured to be following in the footsteps of the people that we are following in and respectful of what they have done."