Ex Tottenham and QPR man Peter Crouch labelled 'national treasure' for hilarious Cheltenham Festival joke

Former Tottenham Hotspur and QPR striker Peter Crouch had the internet in stitches during Day Three of the Cheltenham Festival as he made an impromptu X-rated joke about wife Abbey Clancy live on television.

The 44-year-old is no stranger to the cameras since having hung up his football boots after a spell at Burnley in 2019. Crouch has had his own BBC show, featured on programmes such as A League of Their Own and The Masked Dancer, as well as having his own podcast.

While enjoying the horse racing at Cheltenham, Crouch stopped by the ITV coverage of the event for a quick chat with Oli Bell. Rather than the action on the racecourse, it was a hilarious unplanned gag delivered by the tall striker that sent social media into meltdown.

Peter Crouch makes Cheltenham Festival joke

Crouch, who is a huge 6 foot and 7 inches tall, was asked if he had ever ridden a horse in a tongue-in-cheek quip by presenter Oli Bell. Stealing the show, Crouch responded: "Yes, I've been on a few horses. Abbey likes to ride."

A grin spread across the former striker’s face as he realised the innuendo in his innocent response. Giggling, he couldn’t help but clarify: "Horses."

That had Bell in hysterics with Crouch also losing his composure. The host intervened: "Okay, well we'll leave it at that."

Sharing the clip online, one X user labelled Crouch as a ‘national treasure’ while another said ‘Crouchy is absolutely top class’. Another said: “Never change Peter Crouch.”

Peter Crouch on horse racing love with Harry Redknapp

Before the interview took an X-rated turn, the former footballer had explained his love for Cheltenham. He said: “I’m a regular. It’s kind of a football thing, it’s a tradition. I played under Harry Redknapp countless times, he introduced me to it and I've been coming back ever since.

“We came [when we were playing football]. There were a couple of incidents where I remember Harry said to Jonathan Woodgate we couldn’t come and then he found out Jonathan had organised a helicopter so very quickly that changed and Harry was sitting in the front. We had some great days and I always remember coming here and it being a really great day. I’ve always tried to come back since I’ve retired.”

Having recovered from the Clancy gag, when asked who he fancies for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, Crouch said: “It’s a tough one for me. I’ve had a little bet with Paddy, he wants the Irish horses and I want the English horses. I feel I haven’t got much chance.”

Crouch met wife Abbey in 2005 before the two tied the knot in 2011. Clancy is known for her work as a model and a TV personality. The two have four children together.

The talisman started his career at Tottenham Hotspur before leaving for QPR in 2000. He would return to Spurs in 2009 and made 93 total appearances in North London, scoring 24 goals.

Crouch played 47 times for QPR between 2000 and 2001 and also represented Liverpool, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Stoke City. He was named the QPR Player of the Season for the 2000/01 campaign.

In other news, QPR have been handed a fresh injury blow to a key star ahead of facing Leeds United on Saturday.