Mark Langdon: Chapman the obvious choice to front MOTD

Artificial intelligence is making rapid progress in a number of industries and whether you love it or hate it, you have to admire the capabilities of a technology that can produce a new Michael Parkinson podcast more than a year after his death.

Parkinson will be interviewing celebrities from beyond the grave with the help of AI. Some will no doubt find the whole thing crass, but I am just relieved someone has gone for an option outside of Romesh Ranganathan.

A League of Their Own, Rob and Romesh, The Weakest Link and Romesh Ranganathan's Parents Evening are just four of his shows currently on the box. There's also the highly rated podcast Wolf and Owl, and looking at BBC Radio 2's schedule for Saturday (today) he is on twice.

Don't worry if you miss Romesh Ranganathan: For the Love of Hip Hop because nine hours later he will be back on the wireless with another show alongside Ricky Gervais.

He's here, he's there, he's every bloody where and the lack of imagination from producers is quite startling. Basically, if you're not Romesh, Rylan or Bradley Walsh then forget about it.

Parkinson (sort of) coming back from the dead could potentially open the door for a more imaginative list of candidates to replace the outgoing Gary Lineker as Match of the Day presenter.

I asked ChatGPT to produce the ultimate football show of dead people and it came back with David Coleman presenting, Brian Moore commentating and Jimmy Hill as the pundit. 

You wouldn't go far wrong with that iconic trio, with AI noting: "This team combines professionalism, warmth, and deep footballing knowledge - perfect for fantasy punditry."

Maybe we could bring back Saint and Greavsie in the Saturday morning slot - the Football Focus producers can have that idea for free - and what wouldn't we all give to see Alastair Down and Big Mac on our screens at Cheltenham this weekend?

You know you're getting old when you pine for the halcyon days of yesteryear, but it's hard not to believe we were absolutely stacked with giants of sports broadcasting with dishy Des Lynam leading the way and the likes of Jim Rosenthal and Steve Rider in his slipstream.

Rider was greatly underrated and I had a wonderful reunion of sorts with silky Steve a while back as I stirred after committing the cardinal sin of falling asleep on the sofa.

It felt like a beautiful dream as Rider's voice gently broke my sleep, only to open my eyes and see the great man on TV for the first time in years. It's a national disgrace he is on the graveyard shift presenting highlights of Touring Cars. 

Get Steve back on prime-time, travelling the globe with Rob Beckett. Rob and Rider, it's got Netflix written all over it.

Rider was among those in that era who were unlucky the depth of talent was so high, but one look at the odds for Lineker's replacement shows we aren't at that level these days.

For me, Clive, there's only one logical choice and that's Mark Chapman.

Chappers does a grand job on the MOTD sister Sunday show and also leads what is quietly becoming one of my favourite football programmes, the Champions League highlights. 

You couldn't ask for a more competent anchor of Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club and the way he keeps things simple is an underrated skill.

He may be the obvious choice, but sometimes you shouldn't ignore the obvious. Just ask those producers who have Romesh on speed dial.