John McCririck death: Controversial horse racing pundit and TV eccentric dies, aged 79

‘He was an unmistakable presence in racing, and one of the most impactful broadcasters of his generation,’ says Ascot racecourse

Horse racing broadcaster John McCririck has died aged 79, his family have announced.

The pundit was best known as the long-term presenter of Channel 4’s racing coverage, where he was familiar to viewers for his flamboyant style, signature deerstalker hat, and sideburns.

McCririck, born in Surrey, died at a London hospital on Friday following months of ill health. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Jenny, with whom he lived in north London.

His family said he was “for many years the face of British horse racing”.

“His flamboyant broadcasting style from the heart of betting ring proved extremely popular with racing fans and beyond,” they added in a statement.

Ascot Racecourse said it was “deeply saddened” by McCririck’s death.

“He was an unmistakable presence in racing, and one of the most impactful broadcasters of his generation,” it added in a statement.

BBC horse racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght described McCririck as “unquestionably a one-off”.

McCririck’s interest in racing began as a pupil at Harrow, where he was the school bookie. After leaving school he worked for an illegal street bookmaker before becoming a “tic-tac man”, communicating horses’ odds at courses.

He cut his teeth writing about racing in Formindex, a tipping sheet, before going on to work for Sporting Life, where he won two British Press Awards for his campaigning journalism before being sacked in 1984.

By this time McCririck’s broadcasting career was already taking off. He first appeared on ITV in 1981 covering Shergar’s record win in the Epsom Derby, but it was on Channel 4 – which took over coverage of racing in 1984 – that he became a household name.

He continued to front Channel 4’s racing programming until 2013, when his time with the broadcaster ended bitterly. After being replaced as a presenter by Clare Balding, he accused the channel of ageism. But an employment tribunal unanimously rejected his claim of discrimination and concluded his “pantomime persona” and “self-described bigoted and male chauvinist views were clearly unpalatable” to Channel 4 Racing.

McCririck, who had become recognisable to new audiences in the 2000s through appearances on reality TV programmes and quiz shows such as Celebrity Big Brother, The Weakest Link, and Wife Swap, continued to make television and radio appearances until shortly before his death.

His appearance on Big Brother’s Bit On The Side in October last year shocked viewers, with some pointing out he looked “gaunt” and “poorly” compared with his time as a contestant.

He then revealed he felt “no purpose in life” after his regular television work came to an end and explained the dramatic change in appearance was down to intentional weight loss and a severe bout of flu.