'He lightened up racing': Tanya Stevenson remembers C4 partner John McCririck

Tanya Stevenson knew John McCririck better than most having worked with him for 15 years, and she described the broadcaster as "witty, sharp and mischievous" following his death on Friday.

Stevenson was part of Channel 4's Morning Line team, and she co-presented the show's betting segments with McCririck.

Reflecting on their time working in front of the camera she said: "I was very lucky, I love him dearly. I wouldn't have been able to do what I've done without him. I was his runner prior to going in front of camera with him and I was encouraged by him to appear on air."

The pair worked wonderfully as a double act, with Stevenson often appearing to play the role of his handler when trying to keep him in check, but it was all good-natured fun.

"It was so lighthearted," Stevenson added. "The fact was you never knew what was coming next. It was just natural reaction from me but in an endearing way."

McCririck's opinions were not always shared by others, but he sometimes took a certain stance just to elicit a response and start a debate.

"His views weren't necessarily his views," Stevenson said. "He was being devil's advocate to incite debate, and make it lively. In doing so that brings racing to a mainstream audience. He diluted the jargon and turned topics into a 'yes, no' scenario.

"He spoke the punters' language and brought the betting industry to account and praised it when it needed to be praised."

McCririck's passion for the sport and betting was always evident and Stevenson spoke of her pride at being able to learn from him.

"He didn't waste airtime, he made pertinent points," she said. "It was a privilege to learn alongside someone like that with a journalistic background and it was a bundle of fun."

When asked on some of her best moments with McCririck on Channel 4, Stevenson picked the time he met the then Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce at York's Ebor meeting.

Sam Allardyce: former Newcastle manager rubbed shoulders with John McCririck at the Ebor meetingCredit: Getty Images

A passionate fan of the club, McCririck was quick to introduce himself, and Stevenson said: "He shook his hand and told him to look after the club, then joked, 'I should have gone for the job not you'. But it was a mark of the man that Sam knew who he was.

"I look back and can only chuckle at the time I had with him. He may have been outspoken and eccentric but he was full of laughs, gave so much to charity and was so witty, sharp and mischievous. He lightened up racing."

Former ITV and Channel 4 betting guru John McCririck dies aged 79

Lee Mottershead on the life of one of racing's most recognisable faces