‘Depressed’ John McCririck told MailOnline he was suffering with flu

John McCririck told MailOnline he was suffering with flu and blamed Channel 4 sacking for his ailing health in one of his last-ever interviews

  • John McCririck died aged 79 with his wife Jenny by his side in hospital today
  • He spoke to MailOnline last October about health and told of chest infection
  • It followed him sparking concern among fans after appearing gaunt on TV
  • Presenter insisted his dramatic weight loss was down to his sacking in 2013

MailOnline UK deputy showbusiness editor Rebecca Davison with John McCririck during a previous interview with the broadcaster

John McCririck revealed he was suffering with flu and blamed his exit from Channel 4 for his ailing health in one of his last-ever interviews

The racing journalist and broadcaster, who died with his wife Jenny by his side in hospital today, spoke to MailOnline about his health nine months ago.

McCririck had earlier sparked concern among fans after appearing gaunt while joining the panel for Big Brother’s Bit On The Side last October.

And the presenter spoke hours after the show to address his health issues as he insisted his dramatic weight loss was down to his sacking in 2013.

Admitting he suffered with depression after the dismissal, he said a mixture of his reaction to the sacking and a ‘serious flu’ culminated in a chest infection.

In his typically controversial manner, McCririck chatted animatedly on Big Brother’s Bit On The Side, yet fans were thrown by his physical appearance.

Speaking to MailOnline UK deputy showbusiness editor Rebecca Davison last October, he said: ‘I was sacked by Channel 4, I was depressed, I lost my appetite. 

‘I had no motivation, no purpose in life. I’ve never missed a day’s work in 50 years.’

McCririck had sparked concern among fans after appearing gaunt while joining the panel for Big Brother's Bit On The Side last October

McCririck had sparked concern among fans after appearing gaunt while joining the panel for Big Brother’s Bit On The Side last October

In 2013 he launched legal proceedings against Channel 4 seeking damages after his axing from the station’s new racing output, but he lost out in the case later on. 

And McCririck said last October: ‘It’s been a bad year but I’ve been getting better slowly… I’d already lost weight but the flu accelerated it. 

McCririck is pictured at Epsom in June 2009

McCririck is pictured at Epsom in June 2009

‘My advice to other men never retire unless you have to. It’s been a bad year.’

He then joked: ‘I’ve cancelled my marathon next year! I don’t believe in exercise – just swimming and aqua aerobics.’

While his illness has been a factor in his weight loss he admitted he had wanted to lose weight as he said: ‘You don’t seen old men on walking sticks being able to carry the weight – bar Winston Churchill.’

He even joked about death as he insisted he did not want a funeral and revealed he had given his wife Jenny – who he calls ‘Booby’ – his instructions for when he died.

He said: ‘I don’t want a funeral, I think it’s selfish. I want a cremation and to be buried at Alexandra Park Racecourse – Booby knows what to do.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk