A tribute to John McCririck from ITV Director of Sport Niall Sloane

I was saddened to hear of John's passing. I first met him when I joined the BBC Grandstand team in 1982. He was unfailingly helpful in what was quite a tough school. I then watched admiringly as he changed fundamentally how Racing was broadcast.

You always knew when John was on and he made betting both fun and comprehensible. But in winning Investigative Journalist of the Year on two occasions he proved he was a lot more than an engaging performer.

In latter years I was delighted that he was so complimentary about ITV's coverage of his beloved sport whenever we met.

Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport