Racing pundit and television personality, John McCririck has lost his age discrimination employment tribunal case against Channel 4 and TV production company IMG Media Limited. Both denied
Racing pundit and television personality, John McCririck has lost his age discrimination employment tribunal case against Channel 4 and TV production company IMG Media Limited. Both denied discrimination in the £3 million case.
A Central London Employment Tribunal panel unanimously ruled against the 73-year-old who alleged that he was dropped from his role on Channel 4 Racing after 29 years because of his age. A new Channel 4 Racing team - headed by Clare Balding - was put in place when Channel 4 won its bid for the "Crown Jewels" and on the back of this success, wanted to bring racing to a wider audience.
The Tribunal accepted that Mr McCririck was dismissed not because of his age but because of "his persona emanating from his appearances from Celebrity television shows.... together with... his style of dress, attitudes, tic tac gestures... and his opinions seen as arrogant and confrontational". In any event, the Tribunal accepted that Channel 4 was justified in dispensing with Mr McCririck's services, its legitimate aim being to bring horse racing to a wider audience and that a proportionate means of achieving that aim was to make changes to the make up of the presenting team.
Mr McCririck claimed that the decision was a "historic setback" for all employees over 30.
A Central London Employment Tribunal panel unanimously ruled against the 73-year-old who alleged that he was dropped from his role on Channel 4 Racing after 29 years because of his age. A new Channel 4 Racing team - headed by Clare Balding - was put in place when Channel 4 won its bid for the "Crown Jewels" and on the back of this success, wanted to bring racing to a wider audience.
The Tribunal accepted that Mr McCririck was dismissed not because of his age but because of "his persona emanating from his appearances from Celebrity television shows.... together with... his style of dress, attitudes, tic tac gestures... and his opinions seen as arrogant and confrontational". In any event, the Tribunal accepted that Channel 4 was justified in dispensing with Mr McCririck's services, its legitimate aim being to bring horse racing to a wider audience and that a proportionate means of achieving that aim was to make changes to the make up of the presenting team.
Mr McCririck claimed that the decision was a "historic setback" for all employees over 30.