Clare Balding says 'it's killing me' as she gives update on new addition with wife
Wimbledon presenter Clare Balding shared an update about her and her wife Alice Arnold's current position with welcoming a new addition into their lives, following their devastating heartache
Clare Balding and Alice Arnold were left devastated following the death of their dog
BBC Wimbledon presenter Clare Balding has opened up about the current setback in her life, with her spouse Alice Arnold. In 2020, the pair were left heartbroken by the death of their Tibetan terrier Archie, who they owned for 15 years.
During an appearance at the Good Woof festival, the broadcaster admitted not having a pet pooch in their home had been "killing" her.
Sharing why she and Alice are currently in no position to take on a new addition, she said on the Alright, Pet? podcast last summer: "Here's the thing about responsible dog ownership, I'm going to be away all this summer doing the Olympics and Paralympics, this is not the time to bring a dog into my life, our life.
"And, we are also doing a big sort of house building project, so that we can move somewhere where we've got a bit more space, we're not close to a road, and we can have doors open all the time.
"It's killing me not to have a dog right now, but I know it's the right thing to wait," the 54-year-old added.
Clare Balding is back on screens fronting this year's Wimbledon coverage
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Amongst her various television duties, Clare hosts the Channel 5 programme Lost Dog, Found Dog.
During a recent discussion with a pet bereavement expert, she asked if there is a right time to take on a new pet, after a loss.
"It's different for everyone, but the most important thing is, it's what's best for the animal you do get," the expert said.
"If you're in a unit that's made up of more than one person, you involve everybody in that decision because it's so so important.
"And what we often hear is that people try and replace [the dog] with the same breed, the same name, please don't because every dog is unique and has it's own character."
She continued by emphasising the importance of people being in the right frame of mind to care for a new dog, after experiencing such heartbreak.
Clare Balding is on the hunt for a new dog companion
In a more recent update about her situation during an appearance on Good Morning Britain, Clare said she and Alice were now actively "looking" for a new companion, though they weren't rushing into the decision.
The presenter is currently occupied with fronting the BBC's live Wimbledon coverage, and come September, she'll embark on a nationwide tour to publicise her new book.
For this year's tennis tournament, Clare teams up with Isa Guha to helm the daily programming broadcast on BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC iPlayer.
Discussing her role at the championships, she remarked: "I love being part of such a good team and learning from them about the new players who stepping into the void left by Federer, Nadal and Murray.
"I'm excited to see how Jack Draper can progress and of course see the latest instalment of the Alcaraz/Sinner rivalry. Coco Gauff burst into our consciousness at only 15 when she beat Venus Williams on her Wimbledon debut.
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"I'd love to see her reach her first final here and ultimately lift the title. It would be great to see a good run from Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu."
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The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Nicola Sturgeon believed Alasdair Gray was a 'bright light'
His 1981 novel, Lanark, was hugely influential. In a newspaper obituary, writer and friend James Campbell described him as 'the father figure of the renaissance in Scottish literature and art'. However, he began life, like most people, as an infant, in Glasgow on 28 December 1934. He had a traditional Scottish upbringing on a council estate. His father, Alexander, was a factory worker, builder's labourer, and remover of damaged chocolate bicuits from a conveyor belt. Wounded in the First World War, he helped found the Scottish Youth Hostels Association. Alasdair's mother Amy worked in a clothing warehouse. A 'good housewife who never grumbled', she loved music, particularly opera. Both parents leaned Left (Amy's father had been blacklisted in England for trade union membership). During the Second World War, Alasdair was evacuated to Auchterarder in Perthshire and Stonehouse in Lanarkshire. From 1942 until 1945, the family lived in Wetherby, Yorkshire, where his father ran a hostel for munitions workers. Back in Glasgow, Gray frequented the public library, enjoying Winnie-the-Pooh, The Beano and The Dandy, plus all manner of 'escapist crap' before discovering 'the good stuff' such as Edgar Allan Poe. He attended Whitehill Secondary School, in Dennistoun, where he edited the school magazine. Aged 11, he appeared on BBC children's radio reading his own poems and one of yon Aesop's Fables. He also read his own poems, 'very poor A.A. Milne' stuff initially, until he found his own voice and started writing short stories. Alasdair Gray Creative poverty Having previously encouraged him, his parents feared poverty and humiliation if he pursued a creative career, which fears proved largely correct (at the turn of the century, Alasdair was reduced to applying to the Scottish Artists' Benevolent Fund for money). In 1957, Gray graduated from art school with a useful degree in Design and Mural Painting. From 1958–1962, he was a part-time art teacher, undergoing pedagogical training at Jordanhill College. Gray also painted theatrical scenery for the Glasgow Pavilion and Citizens Theatre. His first mural was "Horrors of War" for the Scottish-USSR Friendship Society. He received a commission (unpaid, apart from expenses) to paint Creation murals for Greenhead church, this becoming 'my best and biggest mural painting'. Alas, the building – and the mural with it – was demolished in 1970. Indeed, many of his bold and distinctive murals have been lost, though surviving examples can be found at the Ubiquitous Chip restaurant and the entrance to Hillhead subway station. A collaborative ceiling mural at the Òran Mór arts venue depicts Adam, Eve, the Creation and sundry Glaswegians against a stunning, star-streaked, inky blue background. In 1977–78, Gray worked for the People's Palace museum as an 'artist recorder", producing hundreds of streetscapes and portraits of politicians, artists, punters and workers. These are now in the collection at Kelvingrove Art Gallery. In 2023, also for the Kelvingrove, Glasgow Museums acquired Grey's 1964 mural Cowcaddens Streetscape in the Fifties. With distorted perspectives reminiscent of Cézanne, Gray described it as 'my best big oil painting'. Ga-ga for radio His first plays were broadcast on radio (Quiet People) and television (The Fall of Kelvin Walker) in 1968, the latter transmogrifying in 1985 into his third novel. McGrotty and Ludmilla (1990) and Mavis Belfrage (1996) began life similarly. However, his best-known work was his first novel, Lanark, published in 1981 to widespread acclaim. The Observer called it 'probably the greatest novel of the [20th] century', while James Campbell described it as 'an almost preposterously ambitious concoction of thinly disguised autobiography, science fiction, formal playfulness … and graphic design'. Comprising jumbled chapters (four), prologue and epilogue, Lanark came with an erratum slip on which was printed: 'THIS ERRATUM SLIP HAS BEEN INSERTED BY MISTAKE.' The epilogue, four chapters before the end, lists the book's supposed plagiarisms, some from non-existent works. The book tells two parallel stories, the first a Bildungsroman – aye – of a young artist (roughly himself) growing up in 1950s Glasgow. The other is a dystopia set in Unthank (roughly Glasgow). In an oft-quoted passage, the main character says cities gain a positive identity only when so depicted in art: 'Imaginatively Glasgow exists as a music-hall song and a few bad novels. That's all we've given to the world outside. It's all we've given to ourselves.' Despite Lanark's success, Gray preferred his second novel 1982, Janine, published in 1984. The stream-of-consciousness narrative has a more pornographic theme. Anthony Burgess, who'd previously called Gray 'the most important Scottish writer since Sir Walter Scott', described it as 'juvenile'. Of Gray's other novels, Poor Things (1992), a Frankenstein-style tale about a scientist seeking to create the perfect companion, received the most attention, acclaim and income after Lanark. His first short-story collection, Unlikely Stories, won the Cheltenham Prize for Literature in 1983, and he published three poetry collections, often featuring big themes – not always treated seriously – like love, God and language. READ MORE Rab McNeil's Scottish Icons: Don't be a whinging windbag – our bagpipes are braw RAB MCNEIL'S SCOTTISH ICONS: John Knox – the fiery preacher whose pal got burnt at the stake Scottish icons: Saint Mungo – the Fifer with a Welsh name who became patron saint of Glasgow Scottish icons: the midge, vicious little beasties that bite you in the Cairngorms Dear unseen place In appearance likened to a nutty professor with a hysteria-tinged high-pitched laugh, Gray consequently supported socialism and Scottish independence. He popularised the epigram 'Work as if you live in the early days of a better nation', which was engraved hopefully on a wall of the new Scottish Parliament Building. In May 2014, he designed The Sunday Herald's front page, supporting Yes in the indie referendum. In 1992, he'd written that 'by Scots I mean everyone in Scotland who is eligible to vote', a strategy that doomed the referendum to failure. Elsewhere, Gray described English arts administrators in Scotland as 'settlers' and 'colonists'. This led to comically inaccurate accusations of anglophobia by leading nutters. Usually backing the SNP or the Scottish Socialist Party, Gray voted Liberal Democrat at the 2010 general election in an effort to unseat 'corrupted' Labour, and voted Labour in 2019 as a protest against the SNP's timidity. Politics. It's complicated. As is life. After a short illness, Alasdair Gray died at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on 29 December 2019, one day after his 85th birthday. Among many tributes, Nicola Sturgeon, then First Minister, remembered him as 'one of the brightest intellectual and creative lights Scotland has known in modern times'.
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Wimbledon champion had to flog trophies and £9m mansion in huge fall from grace
Wimbledon champion had to flog trophies and £9m mansion in huge fall from grace Boris Becker won six Grand Slam titles and amassed a fortune of around £100m, but his reckless financial decisions and legal woes led to him being declared bankrupt Boris Becker is piecing his life back together following a period of financial and personal instability (Image: IMAGO/UPI Photo ) Boris Becker, the legendary tennis figure who claimed Wimbledon victory three times, was once an international superstar, amassing a fortune through Grand Slam triumphs and lucrative endorsements. At the height of his success, his net worth was believed to be around £100million. However, a string of poor financial choices and mounting legal issues ultimately led to his financial collapse and a stint in prison. He had to part with his prized trophies and give up his extravagant mansion in Mallorca, as his once-glamorous lifestyle disintegrated. This is the tale of Becker's dramatic downfall and his ongoing effort to recover. Becker's tennis career was remarkable by any measure. Making a sensational debut in 1985, he became Wimbledon's youngest men's singles champion at just 17 – a record that still stands. Known for his explosive serve-and-volley tactics and fierce determination, he secured six Grand Slam titles: three Wimbledon crowns (1985, 1986, 1989), two Australian Opens (1991, 1996), and one US Open (1989). His magnetic presence and style turned him into a household name, attracting multimillion-pound sponsorships. After hanging up his racket in 1999, Becker pivoted to coaching, most prominently working with Novak Djokovic between 2013 and 2016. Under his guidance, Djokovic claimed six Grand Slam championships, reinforcing Becker's status as a brilliant strategist and tennis intellect. He also became a regular voice at Wimbledon through his role as a BBC commentator, where his deep insights and personal experience made him a favourite among viewers. Article continues below Becker used to be a regular at Wimbledon, either as a coach, a commentator or a pundit (Image: Getty Images ) His downfall began in 2017 when he was declared bankrupt over an unpaid £3m loan linked to his luxurious Mallorcan villa, referred to as "The Finca." Purchased in 1997 for £500,000, the sprawling 10,000-square-foot property in Alaro came with seven bedrooms, a pool, tennis and basketball courts. Once valued at £9m, the estate became a burden. Becker spent millions refurbishing it, but by 2018 had deserted the property, which had turned into a "dilapidated ghost house" – its walls defaced with graffiti and its roof partially caved in. In 2020, Becker relinquished ownership of the home to a British bank in an effort to reduce his mounting debt, marking a significant low point. His situation worsened as he was forced to sell off his treasured tennis memorabilia – tokens of his six Grand Slam titles. Becker hit rock bottom when he was sent to prison in 2022 (Image: Getty Images ) In 2018, 82 items – including a replica of his 1985 Wimbledon trophy – were auctioned for £700,000. The sale was a stark indication of his decline, as he let go of symbols from his celebrated past to satisfy creditors. His financial problems were worsened by legal entanglements. In 2022, he was found guilty of concealing £2.5m in assets and loans to avoid repaying debts, breaching UK insolvency laws. The hidden holdings included a £1m German residence and shares in a technology company. Convicted on four counts, Becker was handed a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. He served eight months in HMP Wandsworth and Huntercombe before being released and deported to Germany in December 2022. The court case exposed his mismanagement, as prosecutors detailed his efforts to maintain extravagance while deep in debt. His personal affairs have also seen turmoil. Married twice, Becker is a father of four from prior relationships. Just last month, at age 57, he revealed that he and his 35-year-old wife, Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, are expecting their first child together. Becker was forced to auction off his replica trophies (Image: Getty Images ) The pair, who wed in a lavish Italian ceremony in 2022, have endured public scrutiny, but Lilian has remained a loyal partner during Becker's legal and financial troubles. Despite everything, Becker is working to rebuild. Since regaining his freedom, he has resumed his tennis broadcasting work, and his family – especially Lilian – has become the cornerstone of his rehabilitation. Nevertheless, the ruined Mallorcan property and missing trophies linger as painful symbols of his former life. Article continues below Becker's tale – from Wimbledon's youngest champion to a striking example of overindulgence – is a powerful reminder of how quickly fame and wealth can slip away. With a new baby on the horizon and his bankruptcy behind him, he now finds himself at a pivotal moment, striving to reclaim his legacy with the same intensity that once made him a legend on the court.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Sonay Kartal: The unlikely heroine flying the flag for Britain
With 14 tattoos, a retro range of baggy Adidas clothes, and a childhood spent around her parents' kebab shop while struggling to afford tennis coaching, the sense that Sonay Kartal's Wimbledon fairy tale could reach far beyond a traditional tennis fanbase is obvious. We also now know that it was almost over before it started, with Kartal revealing ahead of her big Centre Court debut on Sunday how her baby steps in tennis – at the Pavilion & Avenue club in Brighton – became tinged with fear and anxiety. 'We used to do this thing called the lines game, it's a little warm-up,' she said. 'They'd shout, 'service line', and all the kids had to run to the service line. That was always the first game and I was too shy for three months to actually come on court. My coach Julie [Hobbs] finally managed to get me to do it. I tried to run to the outside tramline, tripped over, burst into tears. Off I went, and I didn't come back for a couple of months.' It is a story that plenty of parents and children will relate to, with Hobbs, a former British No 1, eventually coaxing her back to the sport. Fast forward 17 years and you did not need long around a packed Court 16 on Saturday to feel the impact that Kartal is having. Fresh from three brilliant singles wins, she was in doubles action alongside her friend Jodie Burrage in front of a distinctly youthful audience. Kartal, who is now 23 and the last remaining British woman in the singles draw, hopes that her story can particularly inspire girls who are shy about sport. 'My coach has a daughter and she was super shy, got into tennis and has changed like a completely different person,' she said. 'She's got so much more personality, she's so much more talkative.' And is playing sport becoming cooler for girls? 'I think it's changing,' she says. 'I think now a lot of girls are getting more comfortable with having more muscle on their body. I think that's turning, which is obviously incredible. 'I don't think anyone should feel like girls have to look a certain way. I think that's changing in tennis as well. You look at the tennis players, everyone's all different physiques and sizes and heights. So, it's definitely getting more versatile. If I can inspire kids, whether that's boys or girls, then I'm obviously doing something good.' Kartal played football and cricket at a similar level to her tennis until she was 13 and is a self-confessed sports lover. 'I was a little bit of a tomboy and super sporty,' she said. 'I loved football. My school actually used to have a lot of girls football and I used to go to my local park with my dad. In cricket I was always the batter and just launching [the ball] as far as I could.' Saturday's doubles might not have gone to plan – Kartal and Burrage were beaten in straight sets – but her partner could sense the buzz. Kartal had been informed that she would be first up on Centre Court at 1.30pm on Sunday against the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova just before stepping on court with Burrage. 'Her story shows there's not one way to do what we do – but multiple ways,' said Burrage. 'She has done incredible – and she is going to go a lot higher. For everyone out there, regardless of where you are from, you can do it if you put your mind to it – especially like this chick here. That's the moral of this story.' Kartal's ranking has risen from 864 in 2022 to the world's top 50 – she will overtake Emma Raducanu as the British No 2 once Wimbledon is done and dusted – and Burrage clearly does not think the story will end against Pavlyuchenkova. 'I've got full belief,' she said. There certainly seems little chance of the attention going to Kartal's head. She was six when she made that first trip to a tennis club following an invitation from a tennis official who had eaten at one of her father's two Turkish restaurants. And, while she was competitive against players like Emma Raducana through the British junior rankings, has largely progressed in senior tennis away from the limelight. Kartal's social media remains largely fixated with animals or food and, perhaps most telling of all, she has resisted inevitable pressure to change a coaching team that, as well as Hobbs, also still includes Ben and Martin Reeves from her original club in Brighton. 'I was hearing people saying, you know, 'Do you think you should get a coach that has already done that?' But I didn't want that. If I can have a coach that can take me from a six-year-old to the WTA Tour, I think that's obviously good enough. We just learned together. It's kind of doing this crazy thing together. Kartal did find herself being recognised during a 'tricky' trip to the shops near Wimbledon on Friday night and her phone has been flooded with suggestions for her next tattoo. They have included one of Centre Court itself, a vintage polo shirt in recognition of her distinctive Adidas playing top and, from Burrage, an image of fire and ice. 'I actually like that,' she said. She has, until now, remained a member of the same no-thrills High Street gym in Brighton, although wonders if she may now have to review that arrangement. 'It was getting a bit tricky prior [to Wimbledon]. But to be honest they were actually pretty respectful there [at the gym]. They would just say hello and then just let me get on with it. So maybe I'll have to test that when I'm back. I go to the gym and just kind of have a bit of 'me time', stick my headphones in and just forget about the world. 'People think I don't like [being in the spotlight], because I have gone under the radar my whole life but I don't have an issue with being in the spotlight or not being in the spotlight. I'll take it as a compliment.'
