John McCririck dead aged 79 – horse racing pundit said he ‘wouldn’t live to see another summer’ in haunting final interview months before death

TRAGIC horse racing pundit John McCririck chillingly predicted he wouldn't live to see "another summer" just months before his death today aged 79.

The CBB star said "life was empty" in a haunting final interview in October after he shocked fans with his gaunt appearance.

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He said: “Life is empty. I don't expect to be alive this time next year. It's a question of slipping away.

"I've prepared the Booby [his wife, Jenny] for it. When I'm gone she knows exactly what to do and she'll be fine."

The pundit, who had suffered chest problems and a three-stone weight loss due to a severe bout of flu, blamed his illness on the stress of being dropped from Channel 4 Racing after 28 years.

He accused the broadcaster of ageism and took his case to an employment tribunal, seeking damages of £3million, but lost.

Witnesses had told the tribunal that McCririck was dropped because he was "offensive" and "irritating", and the panel described him as "bigoted and male chauvinist".

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He said last year: "When I was sacked by Channel 4 racing in 2012... you feel depressed.

"You lose a purpose in life. I wake up now in the morning and what have I got to do?

"I worked every day for over 50 years. I've never been late for a job, I've never missed a day's work ever. And work comes first as you can't support your family if you're not working."

McCririck's confirmed the sad news he had passed away today in hospital but is not yet clear how he died.

He was married to Jenny, who he called The Booby, since 1971.

McCririck lived in North London with his wife of 48 years Jenny whom he famously called ‘the Booby’.

In a statement, McCririck's family described him as an "award-winning journalist and broadcaster" and "for many years the face of British horse racing".

They continued: "His flamboyant broadcasting style from the heart of betting ring proved extremely popular with racing fans and beyond."

As well as horse racing, McCririck was known for numerous cameos on mainstream TV - including three notorious stints on Celebrity Big Brother and an unforgettable appearance on Celebrity Wife Swap.

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Eccentric McCririck was arguably horse racing's best-known media personality with his outlandish dress sense - including a cigar permanently hanging from his mouth, deerstalker hat and sideburns.

Born in Surbiton, South West London, and raised in Jersey, he attended Harrow School where he developed an interest in horse racing and betting.

After leaving school, he worked for an illegal street bookmaker before taking a course where learned the art of tic-tac, clerking bets and making a book.

He later became a journalist at The Sporting Life in 1968 and later the Daily Star.

His career as a TV betting pundit started in 1981, when he joined ITV's horse racing presenting team for Shergar's Derby.

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Coverage of the sport then moved to Channel 4, becoming Channel 4 Racing, where he became a household name for his flamboyant style.

As well as racing, McCririck was also known for his appearances on Celebrity Big Brother.

He first took part in the reality show in 2005 along with Caprice Bourret, Bez, Germaine Greer, Jackie Stallone, Jeremy Edwards and Kenzie.

During the series he was best known for his angry protest over not being given Diet Coke.

Five years after appearing in CBB3 he took part in Ultimate Big Brother which featured memorable housemates from previous episodes.

These included Nikki Grahame, Chantelle Houghton, Preston, Makosi Musambasi, Coolio, Brian Dowling, Ulrika Jonsson and Vanessa Feltz.

He was the first to be evicted from the house but undeterred, returned to the famous house in 2015 as a guest in the Hotel from Hell task.

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John appeared on Celebrity Wife Swap in 2006 with Edwina Currie and her husband "JJ".

Speaking about it afterwards, Edwina didn't even try to disguise her contempt for how he treated his wife.

She said: "I returned home thankful that I live with an intelligent, kind and interesting man who is mindful of my welfare and who loves me.

"We are a lucky pair, and we know it. I wouldn't want to be Jenny McCririck again for anything."

It wasn't the first time McCririck's mouth got him in trouble - in 2007 he was booted off a the Alan Titchmarsh show following a string of sexist remarks.

The broadcaster left gentle gardener Titchmarsh fuming after he called fellow guest Ingrid Tarrant a "ghastly woman".

He also said  her estranged husband Chris cheated on her because she was no good in bed.

Titchmarsh called the racing pundit's remarks "gratuitously insulting" and "unbelievably rude" and ordered: "Go on, off you go".

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Tributes have flooded in for McCririck from the horse racing world as news of his death spread.

Professional jockey Nick Schofield told Sky News: "He revolutionised betting and bookmakers - he was the face of the bookmakers.

"He was globally thought of as a funny character."

BBC horse racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght described McCririck as ";a one-off".

He tweeted: "John #McCririck has died; racing pundit, TV personality, award-winning investigative journalist, 'failed' (his word) bookmaker, showman, rent-a-gob, 'marmite' character, the list goes on & on... unquestionably a one-off."

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One of his former Channel 4 colleagues, former champion jockey John Francome, said: "I knew he'd been ill for a while. He was eccentric, incredibly generous - he was brilliant at his job. He was great company and I loved him.

"I feel very sorry for Jenny as they were a great team.

"He reached outside the sport - the two names that were mentioned by people outside racing were Frankie Dettori and Big Mac.

"He had a persona for TV, he was nothing like what you saw on screen, he was a lovely man.

"You'd never want to get into an argument with him because he wouldn't argue with you unless he's researched it to the nth degree!"

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