‘I wanted it to be as tacky as possible’ - Derek Thompson’s most iconic line immortalised in blue neon lights

It was the moment the wider world was introduced to the legend that is Derek Thompson – and Thompson’s wife has now had it immortalised in their North Yorkshire home.

Thompson welcomed the Racing Post to the couple's property in the village of Carlton-in-Cleveland for a major interview in Sunday’s newspaper that marks his final shift as a racecourse commentator at Wolverhampton on Tuesday. The interview encompasses his remarkable life in racing, his pride at being part of the great Channel 4 Racing team and the fear he has felt since a disastrous moment at Ayr earlier this year went viral and prompted social media abuse.

The 74-year-old is well known for going viral, generally in much happier circumstances, and it was in 2013 that Radio 1 DJ Greg James picked up on an extraordinary advertisement Thompson had filmed for the Crown Hotel in Bawtry, spawning the iconic line: “Are you well? I thought you were.”

His home now contains the catchphrase spelled out behind a sofa in blue neon lights, a present from Thompson’s wife, Caroline, who explained: “I wanted it to be as tacky as possible.”

Derek Thompson, pictured at Catterick earlier this month, will end his British commentary career at Wolverhampton on Tuesday

A workaholic, Thompson has made the most of every bit of fame he has received to seek more jobs. Even once he hangs up his microphone in Britain next week, he has no plans to stop being the face and voice of racing in Jersey, where small fields make calling the horses an entirely pleasurable experience. In addition, he will remain on the books of several racecourses for raceday presenting duties and continue to look after customers of the Racing Breaks travel company.

He has taken just a single holiday in the last ten years and even now the thought of another one appears to horrify him.

“There's no way I could spend time lying on a beach," he said. "I've had one holiday in the last ten years because, to me, working in racing is like a holiday. People go to the racecourse for a day out. I'm paid to go for a day out. Aren't I lucky?”

Read more from Derek Thompson in The Big Read, available in Sunday's newspaper or online for Racing Post+ Ultimate subscribers from 6pm on Saturday.

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