{"id":818933,"date":"2026-03-11T13:03:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T13:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/818933\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T13:03:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T13:03:23","slug":"chris-hughes-denies-itv-racing-dispute-and-says-he-offered-to-work-for-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/818933\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Hughes denies ITV Racing dispute and says he ‘offered to work for free’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chris Hughes has hit back at claims he left ITV Racing over a pay dispute, revealing he offered to work Cheltenham Festival for free<\/p>\n

12:38, 11 Mar 2026Updated 12:46, 11 Mar 2026<\/p>\n

\"Chris<\/p>\n

Chris Hughes is absent from Cheltenham this year (Image: PA)<\/p>\n

Chris Hughes has dismissed claims he was axed from ITV<\/a> because he requested more money to present the Cheltenham Festival<\/a>. In April 2025, it was widely reported he had departed the broadcaster over a pay dispute.<\/p>\n

He ceased working for ITV Racing shortly after his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother<\/a>, which saw him finish in sixth place. Whilst it’s been over a year since he stopped working for the company, horse racing<\/a> commentator Neil Watson criticised ITV for parting ways with Hughes<\/a> and referenced the alleged pay row.<\/p>\n

The racing voice admitted he wasn’t particularly impressed with GK Barry and Calfreezy – whose real name is Callum Airey – taking on presenting roles at Cheltenham alongside Oli Bell. After Watson raised the alleged pay dispute, Hughes took to social media and refuted the claim.<\/p>\n

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Watson tweeted: “Never heard of Goalkeeper Barry or Carl Freezer but this shows ITV made a real horlicks by getting rid of Chris Hughes<\/a>, because he quite rightly wanted a bit more in wages, because he was actually very good at what he did and he knew his racing too!”<\/p>\n

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After seeing this tweet, Hughes said: “Just FYI, press reports were not true around this. I never once asked for more money.<\/p>\n

“I was simply told they were cost cutting across sport, euros were coming up etc, and I was one of them that was removed to cost cut. I even offered to work for free at one of the festivals.”<\/p>\n

\"Chris<\/p>\n

Chris Hughes offered his version of events regarding his cutting from ITV(Image: YouTube\/Us Weekly)<\/p>\n

Watson swiftly apologised to Hughes in a subsequent tweet, stating: “My apologies for saying anything which wasn’t true about that Chris. Hope nothing I said caused offence or embarrassment.<\/p>\n

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“You’re a decent guy who loves his racing and I’m sorry if I got the story concerning your ITV departure wrong.”<\/p>\n

Hughes bore no ill will towards Watson’s remarks, responding: “No course not mate, it was in the press so you’re entitled to believe what you want, I’ve just never spoken about it before as I don’t react to things they write. Fish and chip paper days later! But was nothing to do with asking for more, just told I’m part of the cost cut.”<\/p>\n

ITV have been contacted for comment. In August 2025, Hughes left his position at BBC Sport<\/a>, after four years as the face of their coverage of the Hundred cricket<\/a> competition, with England cricketers Alex Hartley and Isa Guha joining the presenting team in his place.<\/p>\n

A source from the BBC<\/a> explained the decision to the Sun at the time, saying: “Chris has done a good job for four years, but we’re going in a different direction. There will be more focus on the cricket<\/a> this year, rather than promoting the Hundred as an entertainment show.”<\/p>\n

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