Bookies put off their breakfast by McCririck

Britain's independent bookmakers have had enough of waking up to John McCririck on Saturday mornings, writes Jamie Corrigan.

The British Betting Offices' Association, which speaks for the owners of 1,500 betting shops, yesterday strongly criticised the Channel 4 betting guru and are advising their members to boycott the Morning Line programme on which he appears.

Warwick Bartlett, chairman of the BBOA, is unhappy with the way that McCririck dealt with a number of issues concerning the BBOA on last Saturday's programme. "We have called a Board meeting for 7 February when we will decide what further action to take," Bartlett said.

"In the meantime we are asking our members to boycott the Morning Line. We're advising them not to switch on the programme in their shops. We're also asking them not to ask Mr McCririck to open any of their betting shops. We are also asking our members to write to all female MPs to draw their attention to the fact that Mr McCririck is chauvinistic towards women, who represent about 25 per cent of our customer base.

"Also we'll be asking the chief executive of Channel 4 to have Mr McCririck removed as we consider him to be past his sell-by date and that he has lost touch with the ordinary punter, whom he claims to represent."

But a producer of the Morning Line, Matt Jackson, retorted to the Bartlett with a charge often levelled at McCririck. "I think Mr Bartlett needs to grow up and stop acting in such a puerile way," he said.

McCririck, however, reacted philosophically: "If Warwick Bartlett wishes to draw up a petition to get me sacked by Channel 4 Racing then he will be swamped by people eager to add their signatures. I have to agree that Warwick Bartlett has caught the public mood and is on to a sure-fire winner."