BBC commentator John Hunt devastated after family killed by crossbow-wielding man

• Police have found suspected crossbow killer Kyle Clifford in Enfield following a huge manhunt in North London.
• Officers had discovered the three victims, aged 25, 28 and 61, with serious injuries at the house in Bushey
• The three victims were members of BBC presenter John Hunt’s family

John Hunt is familiar to millions of BBC Radio 5 Live listeners as the voice of racing commentary.

A former police officer, he moved into broadcasting when his wife, Carol, spotted a job advertisement in the Harrow Observer in the late 1980s for a trainee with gambling company Ladbrokes.

Such was his interest in horse racing that he willingly took a pay cut to pursue his passion and, with Carol’s unwavering support, carved out a successful career.

In 2004, he was poached by Radio 5 Live to cover horse racing but was soon branching out into other sports including covering equestrianism and the modern pentathlon at the London 2012 Olympics.

Couple had three daughters

He later added swimming to his roster of sports and has covered a variety of other events at summer and winter Olympics.

John and Carol Hunt married in Harrow in 1991 and had three daughters, born in 1993, 1996 and 1999.

Their eldest daughter qualified as a journalist and has worked in the United States.

Hannah, who was the middle daughter, was a beautician, and Louise, the youngest, ran a dog grooming salon close to the family home in Bushey, Hertforshire.

It is understood Louise was dating Kyle Clifford, the man held by police on Wednesday night, but the pair had split up in recent days, and she had told neighbours she was very upset at the break-up.

Despite Hunt being on the road a great deal with his job, the family enjoyed travelling and his wife’s social media accounts were full of pictures of the family posing happily on holidays around the world.

BBC bosses stunned by tragedy

On Tuesday, the day of the killings, Hunt was at Lingfield Racecourse covering a meeting, unaware of the horror unfolding at home.

His colleagues at BBC Sport and Radio 5 Live were said to be stunned and devastated by the news.

In a note shared by corporation bosses with staff, they said: “The news today about John Hunt’s family is utterly devastating.

“Our thoughts are with John and his family at this incredibly difficult time and we will provide him with all the support we can.”