John Crace (writer)

For other people with the same name, see John Crace (disambiguation).

John Crace
Born (1956-10-09) 9 October 1956 (age 68)
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of Exeter
Occupation(s)Journalist, critic, parliamentary sketch writer
EmployerThe Guardian

John Crace (/ˈkreɪs/ KRAYSS; born 9 October 1956)[1] is a British journalist and critic. He attended Exeter University.[2] Crace is the parliamentary sketch writer for The Guardian, having replaced the late Simon Hoggart in 2014,[3] and previously also wrote the paper's "Digested Read" column. He is a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and has written several books on the club. He blogs for ESPN FC on Tottenham.[4] According to his columns, he is an enthusiastic collector of ceramic pots.[5]

Writing in 2019, Crace described his "cold turkey" rehabilitation from heroin addiction 32 years previously.[6][7]

In July 2019, The Guardian retracted statements by Crace implying that journalist Isabel Oakeshott had obtained confidential files by sleeping with Nigel Farage and Arron Banks. His article included the claim that Oakeshott only got confidential emails if Farage and Banks "slips it to her". Following the threat of legal action by Oakeshott, the text was amended to: "leave it conveniently tucked under her pillow". This second revision was then removed, with the final version stating: "if he or Arron Banks leave it conveniently to one side for her". Oakeshott stated: "It gives me great pleasure to teach ⁦John Crace⁩ and The ⁦Guardian a little lesson about casually slurring women whose politics they dislike".[8]

On 11 March 2024, Crace posted on his X/Twitter account that he had suffered a heart attack and was receiving treatment in St George's Hospital, London. He wrote an article in The Guardian on 21 March 2024, giving more details.[9]

Crace collects British stamps and has written columns for Stamp Magazine.[10]

  1. ^ Crace, John (11 October 2019). "On Brexit, I was out of time and out of ideas. But elsewhere in life? Hopefully not". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  2. ^ Crace, John (20 October 2009). "How the experience of being at university has changed". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  3. ^ "John Crace – Profile". The Guardian. London. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Tottenham Hotspur Blog – ESPN FC". ESPN FC. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  5. ^ Crace, John (16 October 2020). "Digested week: stocking up on ceramics and cramming in dinner parties ahead of London tier 2". The Guardian.
  6. ^ Crace, John (15 February 2019). "And the award for most incompetent minister goes to …". The Guardian.
  7. ^ Crace, John (25 March 2019). "How I overcame my heroin addiction – and started to live". The Guardian.
  8. ^ Mayhew, Freddy (22 June 2019). "Guardian apologises to Isabel Oakeshott over 'fictitious' comment in cables leak sketch". Press Gazette.
  9. ^ Crace, John (21 March 2024). "'Is this how I die?' John Crace on his terrifying heart attack". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Devil's Advocate: Military Blunder". Stamp Magazine. Vol. 85, no. 4. My Time Media. April 2019. p. 33. ISSN 0307-6679.