Clare Balding is a very familiar face, but who is she and how did she get into television sports presenting?
Who is Clare Balding?
Clare Balding is one of our top sports presenters. She has been presenting sport since 1994 and today is at the helm of many of our top sporting occasions, from Wimbledon to the Olympics.
How old is Clare Balding?
Clare Balding was born on 29 January 1971.
Where did she grow up?
Clare Balding was born into a very horsey family and grew up in Kingsclere Hampshire, where her father, Ian Balding, was a successful racehorse trainer. Among his clients was the late Queen Mother. Clare's brother is the top racehorse trainer Andrew Balding.
Kingclere is very close to Highclere Castle, which is probably better known as Downton Abbey
Is Clare Balding related to the late Queen?
On Who Do You Think You Are, Clare discovered that her grandmother can trace her family line all the way back to King Henry VII, who died in 1509, so she has royal blood – but exactly what relation that makes her to the late queen we are not sure.
What sports did Clare Balding do?
Throughout her childhood and teenage years, Clare has ridden and competed at a number of equestrian sports including eventing, show jumping and dressage. From 1988 until 1993, Clare was also a leading amateur flat jockey and won Champion Lady Rider in 1990.
Where did she study?
After leaving school, Clare studied English at Newnham College, Cambridge.
How did she get into sport presenting?
In 1994, she became a trainee with BBC National Radio and worked on 5 Live and presented the sport on Chris Evans Breakfast Show.
Her television debut came in 1995 when she introducing highlights of Royal Ascot.
What else has she presented?
Clare has presented live from many illustrious sporting events, from Wimbledon to Badminton Horse Trials, the Grand National and Cheltenham Festival to top golf tournaments. In 2024, she will be leading the Olympic and Paralympic coverage.
She is also a regular on radio, having presented Ramblings on Radio 4 since 1999, and has also fronted Saturday Live and Woman's Hour.
What books has she written?
Clare has written a couple of autobiographies: My Animals and Other Family (which won Autobiography of the Year at the 2012 Specsavers National Book Awards) and Walking Home.
She has also written Heroic Animals: 100 Amazing Creatures Great & Small and a series of fiction books for children.
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Is Clare Balding married?
Clare entered a civil partnership with her longtime partner Alice Arnold in 2006 and the couple married in 2015.
Has Clare Balding had cancer?
Clair was successfully treated for thyroid cancer in 2009.
Where does Clare Balding live?
Clare Balding lives in London.
Find out more
Check out our guides to other favourite TV presenters, including Chris Packham, Matt Baker, Helen Skelton, Iolo Williams, Megan McCubbin, Anita Rani and Gillian Burke.
