If you live in the UK and are a fan of racing, you’ll certainly know who John McCririk is. The face and voice of horse racing punditry over the years, McCririk’s style, a combination of enthusiastic and pantomime agitation, made him one of the most recognised people in racing.
In later life he tried his hand at other challenges, one of which was memorable appearance on Celebrity Big Brother UK (twice – in 205 and 2010), other included Question Time and the Weakest Link. Not shy of controversy, he started his career in racing as an ‘illegal street bookmaker’, before going legit on course.
An award-winning journalist with the Sporting Life, John joined ITV in 1981 before moving to Channel 4 in 1984 where he remained until 2013. He passed away on Friday, July 5, aged 79 and will be sadly missed by many, including his wife Jenny, who he affectionately called ‘The Booby’.
