Crufts' presenter Peter Purves 'shocked & hurt' after Crufts axe after 41 years

Peter Purves has claimed that he was a victim of ageism after he was axed from commentating Crufts for Channel 4 after 41 years.

The 80-year-old TV host appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss his sudden dismissal from his role, saying he was ‘stunned’ when he was told he was ‘surplus to requirements’.

He told Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid: ‘There hadn’t been a hint about it. This would be my 42nd year at the show. I just feel it’s part of my life, I was very shocked, I was very hurt.’

‘I did ask for the reasons in writing,’ he revealed. ‘I got them, and there wasn’t a reason.

‘It was just, “We’re always refreshing the show”. Basically, sorry, one in one out, we’re bringing someone else in, you’re out.’

Peter, whose legendary time on telly started with kids TV show mainstay Blue Peter, then said that he believed that it was a ‘code for ageism’ and knew Channel 4 wanted to keep age of on-screen talent down.

‘I know that that was said, I can’t prove it, no one has written it down to me, but I know it,’ he said.  ‘So that has been said. Channel 4 want a younger presentation team, so I had to go.’

‘The one thing that hurt me quite a lot was, “We want to bring in someone else to sit beside the expert team”,’ Peter said.

‘So I’m not part of the expert team? 41 years doesn’t make you an expert?’

‘I don’t believe because you reach a certain age your talent, your skill, whatever it is, whatever I have, it may not be good, but whatever I have should not just be dismissed for my age,’ he added.

‘I’ve been part of that show for a long, long time so that’s what’s very hard to break the feeling of.

‘There’s a void. I hope it doesn’t affect other work, it may, but I hope it doesn’t.’

When approached by Metro.co.uk, a spokesperson for Kennel Club, who runs Crufts, said: “Channel 4 takes its own independent editorial decisions for its programmes.

‘Peter is and will remain a great friend of the Kennel Club and Crufts, and we are delighted that he will be presenting the 2020 Best in Show trophy.’

Metro.co.uk has also contacted Channel 4 for comment.

On talking to Peter, Piers took particular exception to the star’s plight, and vowed to launch a campaign to get his role back.

‘I’d love to know what Clare Balding thinks about this. I know Clare, and she won’t be happy about this,’ Piers declared.

‘It’s just ageist, that’s all it is. It’s people saying we can’t have a bloke that age doing this.

‘Why? It’s only 41 years! 41 years.’

‘You were a legend of my generation,’ he continued. ‘We’re going to try and fight the good fight, Peter.

‘We’re sorry you’ve been given this horrible shock before Christmas.’

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.

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