Gary Lineker will return to Match of the Day if he is asked - but will never apologise, his son has said.
The BBC was flung into chaos this week when bosses pulled Gary, 62, off air following anti-Tory posts on Twitter - sparking a massive revolt which saw fellow football pundits including Ian Wright and Alan Shearer walk out in solidarity with him.
Tonight BBC director general Tim Davie praised Gary as "the best in the business" and defined success as "Gary gets back on air."
In an exclusive interview tonight, Gary's son George told how the TV favourite - who will spend Saturday night eating a cottage pie cooked by his family - is open to a return, but will never take back his comments on social media.
George, 31, who spoke to the host today revealed: "Dad is a good man, a good human, and I'm proud of him for standing by his word. That's why he was pulled off the show - because he wouldn't apologise. But he will always speak up for people who don't have a voice.
"He is passionate about helping refugee charities - he took in two refugees who he is still in touch with and trying to help. It means a lot to him to stand up for people whose only hope is to escape a country with only the clothes on their back. That's why he's been so firm.
The Mirror has launched a petition to have Gary Lineker reinstated at the BBC and as the host of Match of the Day. Sign it here.
"Will he go back to Match of the Day? I think so - he loves Match of the Day. But he won't ever back down on his word."
The ex-striker was hauled to task by corporation bosses over a tweet in which he compared language around the Government's small boats programme to that used in Nazi Germany in the 1930s.
And when he refused to make a "humiliating apology" he was pulled off the air, leaving bosses scrambling for a replacement.
George told how his dad initially put on a brave face to his sons after he was axed from the show - sending them a thumbs-up emoji.
But he later broke down when he learned that Alan and Ian had all refused to step in, going on strike in support of him.
He said: "To take him off the air for having a voice is harsh, and I think he was surprised, and a bit disappointed.
"Free speech is important and he shouldn't have been punished for that.
"But the reaction to all of this has been more than Dad ever thought it would be, and that just shows he did the right thing. After it all kicked off, me and my brothers messaged him saying: 'We're proud of you' and he replied: 'Cheers boys' with a thumbs-up emoji.
"Later he told us that he'd been so overwhelmed by the support. He wrote: 'Shearer and Wrighty backing down made me emotional, it means a lot to me.'
"I think he did cry when he found out about that. The support has been a positive thing to come out of this.
"I've been messaging him today, just saying: 'How are you doing Dad, how are you holding up?' And he replied: 'All good.'
"He's been at Leicester today and he got a really good reaction - there were banners in support of him in the stadium. When he comes home from the Leicester game my brother is cooking him a cottage pie.
"Then he'll probably go to bed and maybe watch the show in the morning, before we go for a Sunday roast."
Gary's £1.3million year contract is up for renewal in two years. And while George says his dad has not yet decided on his future, he admitted he might decide to walk away from his job at that point.
He said: "Dad doesn't know yet what the future holds for him, right now his contract is his contract. But - in the nicest of ways, and he won't mind me saying this - he is getting old. He's put in a great shift and when his contract expires he will be 64.
"I think maybe at that point he would want to work a bit less. But let's see what happens, it's early days, and it's for him to say what he does next."
George went on: "This week has been very overwhelming, and I do think it has been hurtful for Dad. But all the support he has received has made him feel a lot better and I know he has no regrets."
