Vesuvius

Former Channel 4 betting pundit John McCririck is seeking £3m in damages for alleged age discrimination over the decision to drop him from their tv racing team last year.  McCririck says he was sacked from Channel 4 Racing in October "without any consultation or cogent explanation", and the claim is against both  Channel 4 and IMG Sports Media, which took over production of racing coverage from the start of 2013.

This may well lead to another uncomfortable tribunal appearance for Jay Hunt.  She was already on her way to C4 when Miriam O'Reilly brought her case against the BBC back in November 2010 - but still had to give evidence over two days about how and why the Countryfile presentation team was changed, when she was Controller of BBC1.

John has gone for a no-win, no-fee deal with solicitor Stephen Beverley, who knows his way round tribunals. He also knows his way round the boxing ring.  He's Chairman of the Appeal and Disciplinary Committee of the World Boxing Council, and Honorary Solicitor to the Schools Amateur Boxing Association.