- Joined
- Aug 25, 2010
- Location
- doncaster
Known to many uk readers as the eccentric face of uk horse racing on tv in 80s and 90s. He was 79.
John McCririck dies
- Thread starter steveh35
- Start date
- Joined
- May 13, 2014
- Location
- Wolverhampton
Sad news, as 'strange' as he could be, he did make me laugh from time to time.
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2019
Yep sad news. He brought Tic Tac into our living rooms. Full details: Racing Pundit McCririck Dies
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2018
- Location
- Uk
One of the great eccentric characters. When I was in my late teens I started watching the morning line. If you liked the horses it was a must watch. The banter and humour between them was amazing.
Strangely enough it was Ascot the other week and he crossed my mind so I googled to see how old he was. Apparently he had been on tv that morning and the picture it showed was absolutely jaw dropping. He was skin and bone. Very sad indeed.
I used to love the stories he would relay of amusing true life events. This was one of my favs from many years ago so I won’t be able to recall it perfectly but you will get the gist.
It was Royal Ascot and anybody that was anybody had sat down for lunch in the top VIP suite.
Soup was served along with a bread roll and butter. Sheikh hamdoun al maktoum (or similar) calls a young waiter over and asks for another parcel of butter. The waiter politely says I am sorry sir it’s strictly one butter per person. To which the Sheikh replies “do you know who I am”. The boy replies no. “I am Sheikh hamdoun al maktoum one of the wealthiest men in the world. I own some of the best horses in racing and I am respected by everyone”. Well do you know who I am said the boy. Looking very startled and surprised the Sheikh said “no I do not”. I said the boy am the person in charge of the butter.
I always loved that one. He wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea (who is) but I love characters and he was up there with the best. He wasn’t afraid to speak his mind or argue his point and I think he was as entertaining as it gets.
Sadly missed.
Strangely enough it was Ascot the other week and he crossed my mind so I googled to see how old he was. Apparently he had been on tv that morning and the picture it showed was absolutely jaw dropping. He was skin and bone. Very sad indeed.
I used to love the stories he would relay of amusing true life events. This was one of my favs from many years ago so I won’t be able to recall it perfectly but you will get the gist.
It was Royal Ascot and anybody that was anybody had sat down for lunch in the top VIP suite.
Soup was served along with a bread roll and butter. Sheikh hamdoun al maktoum (or similar) calls a young waiter over and asks for another parcel of butter. The waiter politely says I am sorry sir it’s strictly one butter per person. To which the Sheikh replies “do you know who I am”. The boy replies no. “I am Sheikh hamdoun al maktoum one of the wealthiest men in the world. I own some of the best horses in racing and I am respected by everyone”. Well do you know who I am said the boy. Looking very startled and surprised the Sheikh said “no I do not”. I said the boy am the person in charge of the butter.
I always loved that one. He wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea (who is) but I love characters and he was up there with the best. He wasn’t afraid to speak his mind or argue his point and I think he was as entertaining as it gets.
Sadly missed.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2018
- Location
- Uk
Sorry about the double post. I thought I was editing the previous one. Where is edit now please. snorky and technology don’t mix. Bring back slate and chalk 
- Joined
- May 23, 2008
- Location
- 32Red Marketing Dpt
I used to love watching Ch4 racing and the idiots trying to get on TV during the live price updates in the betting ring. He’d call them imbeciles, buffoons and basically any insult he could without getting taken off air.
Working for a company that sponsors so much horse racing I’ve often been at events he’s attended and I have friends who knew him well. A huge loss indeed but as others have pointed out he seems to have been though a period of illness so perhaps it’s a relief for him and his closest family and friends.
Working for a company that sponsors so much horse racing I’ve often been at events he’s attended and I have friends who knew him well. A huge loss indeed but as others have pointed out he seems to have been though a period of illness so perhaps it’s a relief for him and his closest family and friends.
- Joined
- May 22, 2012
Burlington Bertie, 100-300 loved that one...
geordiecolin
Sporney eyed parrot faced wazzock
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2015
- Location
- Novacastrian
The guy felt extremely upset that his career came to a sudden halt after so many years as a tv pundit. It was all a part of a political correctness campaign at that time. I often thought that his insistance on picking his nose and eating it while in big brother did it for him. I think he only gave up hope of getting his job back a few years ago and he seemed to have just gave up on everything after that. I love true eccentrics
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2018
- Location
- Uk
Talking of the morning line again they had a great combination of characters in the early days. Very smart people who knew their subject inside out. They complemented each other perfectly.
Another memory (and how they got away with it I will never know). Maybe it was Francomes unbelievably dry sense of humour that hardly anyone noticed but as they were going into the break it was over to Tommo for the turf trivia. He says how many racetracks can you name that have a body part in their name (Yarmouth for example).
The camera stays with them for a second and Francome says in his droll Wiltshire accent “They haven’t got a track at Scunthorpe have they”. Truly unbelievable he would be lucky to escape the gallows nowadays.
Another memory (and how they got away with it I will never know). Maybe it was Francomes unbelievably dry sense of humour that hardly anyone noticed but as they were going into the break it was over to Tommo for the turf trivia. He says how many racetracks can you name that have a body part in their name (Yarmouth for example).
The camera stays with them for a second and Francome says in his droll Wiltshire accent “They haven’t got a track at Scunthorpe have they”. Truly unbelievable he would be lucky to escape the gallows nowadays.
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2010
- Location
- doncaster
Yes he lost the case he brought for unfair dismissal and stated he had let all unemployed older people down he really believed he could win the case and was devastated when he lost, in fairness the media arena can get rid of who they want when they want but he believed in what he fought for and was never the same again after he lost.
They obviously nailed him to the lamppost after his Big Brother mishaps, which started the ball rolling as being the poster boy for all things outdated, up until his dramatic ousting at Channel 4 based on 'ageism'. So with the new audience of super-sensitive snowflakes came the infamy, which he outwardly never showed as bothering him....it was like pantomime really
Another misconception is that calling his wife 'Booby' wasn't for its obvious connotation, but rather that Booby referenced 'A South American bird that is stupid, incredibly easy to catch and squawks a lot'
Another misconception is that calling his wife 'Booby' wasn't for its obvious connotation, but rather that Booby referenced 'A South American bird that is stupid, incredibly easy to catch and squawks a lot'
- Joined
- May 8, 2018
- Location
- south east england
A real character, something about the past which we must be missing today that use to generate these larger than life personalities and national figures like John.
Occasionally I'd catch him on the radio mid interview, talking about subjects other than horse racing, newcastle united [he was a fan I believe] and politics are two that come to mind, I'd always stop what I was doing and listen...he'll be sadly missed.
Occasionally I'd catch him on the radio mid interview, talking about subjects other than horse racing, newcastle united [he was a fan I believe] and politics are two that come to mind, I'd always stop what I was doing and listen...he'll be sadly missed.
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2006
- Location
- London the sh$thole
He was an obnoxious c u next Tues at times, but I'll take a geezer like him over todays snowflake presenters any day. Legend really, but too un PC for todays limp wrist-ed folks to handle. Saw him years ago at Wimbledon dog track, asked him for an autograph and he told me to literally fuck off lol RIP dude!!!
- Joined
- May 29, 2004
- Location
- England
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2018
- Location
- Uk
100/30
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2010
- Location
- doncaster
Been confirmed by The Booby that he died of lung cancer which was found when he was treated for Sepsis and he had stated flu for his gaunt appearance to avoid getting inundated with wellwishers.
Also someone on another forum pointed out that his wife looks strikingly similar to Paul McCartney.
Also someone on another forum pointed out that his wife looks strikingly similar to Paul McCartney.
- Joined
- May 22, 2012
Perhaps he saw me coming and cut the odds...Just rolls off the tongue that one
