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| John McCririck 'not a serious journalist' says Channel 4 boss | John McCririck 'not a serious journalist' says Channel 4 boss |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The man who dropped John McCririck from Channel 4's horse racing programmes has said the decision was "entirely unrelated to his age". | The man who dropped John McCririck from Channel 4's horse racing programmes has said the decision was "entirely unrelated to his age". |
| Jamie Aitchison, commissioning editor for sport, told a tribunal that the pundit's "exaggerated tone" was "out of step" with the channel's coverage. | Jamie Aitchison, commissioning editor for sport, told a tribunal that the pundit's "exaggerated tone" was "out of step" with the channel's coverage. |
| McCririck was "seen by many as a comic act rather than a serious horse racing journalist," he added. | McCririck was "seen by many as a comic act rather than a serious horse racing journalist," he added. |
| The 73-year-old is accusing his former employers of age discrimination. | The 73-year-old is accusing his former employers of age discrimination. |
| Channel 4 and IMG Media deny the claims. | Channel 4 and IMG Media deny the claims. |
| In a statement to an employment tribunal, Mr Aitchison said: "John McCririck's exaggerated tone and style and propensity to offend was out of step with the vision for the programme, and also unappealing and irritating to many current and potential viewers." | In a statement to an employment tribunal, Mr Aitchison said: "John McCririck's exaggerated tone and style and propensity to offend was out of step with the vision for the programme, and also unappealing and irritating to many current and potential viewers." |
| He added that the decision to drop him from the line-up last year was taken for "legitimate and justified reasons". | He added that the decision to drop him from the line-up last year was taken for "legitimate and justified reasons". |
| Speaking earlier this week, McCririck told the tribunal his image as a bigot and a sexist went "side-by-side" with his career as a serious journalist. | Speaking earlier this week, McCririck told the tribunal his image as a bigot and a sexist went "side-by-side" with his career as a serious journalist. |
| The 73-year-old claimed his appearances as a "pantomime villain" on reality TV shows did not reduce his "gravitas" and denied they damaged horse racing. | The 73-year-old claimed his appearances as a "pantomime villain" on reality TV shows did not reduce his "gravitas" and denied they damaged horse racing. |
| Wednesday's proceedings also saw the Conservative MP Philip Davies appear as a character witness for McCririck. | |
| "I can't think of anybody who is more on top of his game, nor suitable for the role," the MP for Shipley in West Yorkshire told the tribunal. | |
| Davies, who sits on the Culture Select Committee, acknowledged he had previously criticised Channel 4 for "being too politically correct". | |
| The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |