With the news that a computer-generated Bob Champion was to appear in this year’s Virtual Grand National, both Bob and Rob McLoughlin were interviewed by BBC Radio 4’s flagship current affairs programme, Today, on 10 March.
You can hear the interview here.
The Virtual Grand National (VGN) – which proved a popular replacement for the real thing when it was cancelled due to COVID-19 12 months ago – is set to be televised again on ITV in April.
While former jockey Bob Champion is looking forward to ‘riding’ in the Race Of Champions – which will again be part of the programme – 40 years on from his famous win aboard Aldaniti.
The annual Educate North Awards will be moving online for the ceremony on 22 April 2021. The awards are organised by Rob McLoughlin’s Carm Productions and will be hosted by Jim Hancock, former Political Editor of Granada TV and BBC North West.
Further details of this year’s awards are given on the Prolific North website.
Saturday’s Virtual Grand National, which ran on ITV, has raised £2.6 million for NHS Charities.
The race, which was produced by Rob McLoughlin’s Carm Productions, attracted 4.3 million viewers, a 28% audience share. The bookmakers are set to donate £2.6 million to NHS Charities Together, the umbrella organisation which represents more than 140 NHS charities.
Read more on the Prolific North website.
This year’s Virtual Grand National replaced the real thing and was broadcast on ITV on Saturday, 4 April.
The result was a win for Potters Corner, which bookies had given odds of 18-1. The race was a huge success, with major coverage on national media and even some of the jockies – who would have taken part in the real thing – commenting on social media as the race was run.
The Virtual Grand National was produced by Carm Productions, run by Rob McLoughlin.
For more on the race results, visit the BBC Sports website.