By Mark Duell PUBLISHED: 06:46 EST, 30 September 2013 | UPDATED: 09:57 EST, 30 September 2013 'Unfair': John McCririck and his wife Jenny arriving at the London Central Employment Office today Racing pundit John McCririck insisted today that he had played the part of a ‘pantomime villain’ and claimed he had never been ordered to tone down his on-screen style. Speaking on the first day of his employment tribunal against Channel 4, the 73-year-old said he had lost his job purely based on his age, claiming: ‘There's nobody better around.’ Mr McCririck is taking former employer Channel 4 and TV production company IMG Media Limited to the tribunal, alleging that his sacking last year was motivated by age discrimination.
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Racing pundit, 73, takes C4 and IMG Media to tribunal in Central London
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McCririck is known for his bling jewellery, sideburns and deerstalker hat
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Dropped when C4 unveiled new presenting team headed by Clare Balding
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McCririck later claimed broadcaster had axed him because he was too old
An @placeholder spokesman said: 'Along with C4 we will strongly defend the claim that age played any part in the decision not to include John McCririck in the onscreen racing team.'