John McCririck, the legendary racing pundit known for his deerstalker hat and mutton-chop sideburns, lived with his wife Jenny in a mews house in Primrose Hill, north London, for more than 20 years before his death in 2019 at age 79. Jenny died in 2022.
Before his death, viewers got a peek at their quaint home during an appearance on the BBC show Celebrity Cash in the Attic, presented by Angela Rippon. The home featured a white spiral staircase and was jam-packed with racing memorabilia and numerous pictures of McCririck, along with a few of Jenny and their beloved dogs.
The couple appeared on the show to give away items to be auctioned for Greatwood, a charity that cares for retired racehorses. Items included a cherished miner's lamp from the miners' strike and a branded Tyson vs Holyfield II baseball cap from the infamous 1997 fight where Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ear. Despite McCririck's pessimistic prediction, the collection fetched £575, exceeding the £500 target.
McCririck, who was the face of Channel 4 racing for 25 years before being dropped in 2012, had a controversial public persona. He referred to his wife exclusively as 'The Booby', claiming he named her after the booby bird because it was 'stupid and easy to catch'. On shows like Wife Swap, he played the role of a domestic tyrant, refusing to cook or clean.
Despite his public misogyny, friends and colleagues often noted that Jenny was the true 'boss' of the household. She managed their finances, his career and was his devoted caregiver before his death.
