Gary Lineker is to make a World War II documentary to find out why his grandfather and other troops were called "D-Day Dodgers".
The 58-year-old TV presenter is on a quest to discover why his grandfather, Stanley Abbs – who served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in Italy and fought at the Battle of Monte Cassino – was branded the cruel name, a term used for troops serving in Italy suggesting cowardice and avoiding real combat.
In a statement, Gary said: "My grandfather never talked to me about the war, but I’ve since discovered a little about what happened to him and his colleagues.
"Seventy-five years on, it’s important that we don’t forget the lessons and horrors of war."
The ‘Match of the Day’ host will ask why the veterans of the D-Day landings in Normandy have "gone down in history as heroes", but men like his grandfather "were treated by some as second-class veterans and told they had it easy", and reveal "heroic, deeply personal and harrowing stories".
BBC content director Charlotte Moore said: "This documentary will show how individuals’ lives can be changed forever by global conflicts and yet when they return home their sacrifice is too easily forgotten."
Abigail Priddle, BBC commissioning editor, admitted the documentary will examine his grandfather’s journey and allow viewers to have a "greater understanding" of how this conflict "shaped a generation".
She added: "So many of us have that sense of curiosity about what our grandparents did in the war.
"Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Gary will learn more about how his family contributed to the Allies’ success in World War II and allow us all to get a greater understanding of how this conflict shaped a generation."
‘Gary Lineker: My Grandad’s Untold War’ will be a one-hour film for BBC One.
Gary Lineker to make World War II documentary
