RACING journalist and broadcaster John McCririck has died aged 79.

McCririck – known as ‘Big Mac’ to many in the racing world – was a familiar face on Channel 4’s coverage of the sport for many years, with his career on television spanning four decades.

Married to Jenny in 1971, McCririck was an unmissable character with his deerstalker hat, sideburns and cigar, and thrived at the heart of what he called the “betting jungle”.

In 1981, he joined ITV Sport’s horse racing coverage, which then moved to Channel 4, where he would spend more than 25 years at his familiar spot in the betting ring.

He appeared in various other mainstream programmes before he acrimoniously left Channel 4 Racing in 2012, subsequently losing an age discrimination case made against the station and production company IMG Media Limited.

A statement released by his family said: “Award-winning journalist, broadcaster and for many years the face of British horse racing, John McCririck, passed away at a London hospital on Friday, July 5th, aged 79.

“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 the 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.

“He appeared 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.

The British Horseracing Authority paid tribute to McCririck, tweeting: “We are saddened to hear of the passing of John McCririck. Throughout a lengthy and colourful career, one thing was always clear – his enduring passion and love for the sport of horse racing.”