John McCririck Wiki, Bio, Age, Wife, Kids, Cause of Death, Net Worth, Family, Illness, Cancer, Weight Loss and Controversy
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John McCririck Biography – John McCririck Wiki
John McCririck full name John Michael McCririck, was an English television horse racing pundit, journalist and presenter.
John’s interest in horse racing and betting began at Harrow where he was the school bookie. On leaving he worked for an illegal street bookmaker then legally on-course where he learned the art of tic-tac, clerking bets and making a book.
John cut his teeth in racing journalism on ‘Formindex’, a tipping sheet otherwise known as ‘The Golden Guide’. He went on to write for The Sporting Life where he won British Press Awards, ‘Specialist Writer of the Year’ and ‘Campaigning Journalist of the Year’.
John joined ITV in 1981 for Shergar’s Derby then became a household name as part of the Channel 4 Racing team when they took over coverage of the sport in 1984. His flamboyant broadcasting style from the heart of betting ring proved extremely popular with racing fans and beyond.
John continued to work for Channel 4 Racing until 2013 as well as satellite channel At the Races. In this time he transcended the world of racing, appearing on numerous mainstream TV news and light entertainment programmes including Question Time, The Weakest Link, Celebrity Wife Swap and Celebrity Big Brother in 2005 and 2010.
John McCririck Age
He was born on 17 April 1940 in Surbiton, Surrey, England as John Michael McCririck. He died on 5 July 2019 in London, England. He was aged 79.
John McCririck Wife
He was married to his wife Jenny McCririck from 1971 to his death in 2019.
John McCririck Children
McCririck and his wife Jenny did not have any children together.
John McCririck Celebrity Wife Swap
In 2006, McCririck and his wife Jenny McCririck took part in Wife Swap alongside Edwina Currie and her husband. McCririck was accused of misogyny by Currie on the show due to his treatment of his wife, who he nicknamed ‘Booby’.
John McCririck Death
McCririck died on 5 July 2019 at a London hospital after an illness. A statement from John’s agent, Patsy Martin read: “Award winning journalist, broadcaster and for many years the face of British horse racing, John McCririck, passed away at a London hospital on Friday 5th July aged 79.”
In an interview with the Daily Mail in October 2018, he said he did not expect to see another summer. He told the publication: “What purpose is there in going on if you’re not working? Racing was my life but now when I go I think: “What am I doing here?” I feel like a dinosaur. You’re a lost soul wandering around an environment you’re no longer part of. ‘Life is empty. I don’t expect to be alive this time next year. It’s a question of slipping away.”
John McCririck Cause of Death
John McCririck’s cause of death was cancer.
John McCririck Cancer
John McCririck’s wife revealed that he was secretly battling cancer before his death. Jenny told the Sun that doctors had found a cancerous tumour while treating John for sepsis in January 2018 but chose to keep both his illnesses a secret to avoid attention.
She said while had “defied medical science” to beat sepsis, he had been too weak to beat cancer. “The cancer spread and whenever he had and immunotherapy it left him weaker and weaker and then you get an infection. That’s how he died. But we had the best doctors. They did all they could,” she said.
John McCririck Illness – John McCririck Weight Loss
In early 2018, McCririck contracted influenza which resulted in a chest infection. The illness caused him to suffer dramatic weight loss.
John McCririck Net Worth
John McCririck’s net worth is not known. However, in 2018, he revealed to This Is Money that he spent £20,000 on a holiday to Las Vegas to celebrate the election victory of Donald Trump, and added that he smoked £2,000 worth of cigars per year.
He told the publication: “I did Celebrity Wife Swap with Edwina Currie. That was a good earner – I was paid a five-figure sum. It was a horrendous week though. I know it is sexist to say it, but a bossy woman like Edwina is hard to put up with.”
He said of his extravagant holiday: “I go to Las Vegas every year. This time I spent £20,000 in six weeks. My hotel was on the Strip and it cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars a night. I celebrated Trump’s win, played poker, went to the shows, lounged by the pool… but whatever else I got up to in Vegas stays in Vegas.”
