BBC star Clare Balding's famous partner and 'inexcusable' live TV comment

Edinburgh Live

13 hours ago

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Clare Balding is once again in the thick of a bustling summer as she leads the BBC's Wimbledon coverage.
With three decades of experience under her belt, Balding has carved out a reputation as one of the UK's most esteemed and recognisable TV personalities, having also fronted broadcasts of high-profile sporting events such as the Olympics, Grand National and Commonwealth Games.
Today, she'll be at the heart of the broadcaster's coverage from SW19, with Carlos Alcaraz and Yannik Sinner squaring off in the men's final in south west London.
Naturally, Balding's high profile has piqued interest in her personal life, with her romantic liaisons and occasional controversies attracting public attention over the years.
Here's a glimpse into Balding's life away from the spotlight, covering her journey to openly embracing her identity, her 'dreadful' ex-partner and an 'unforgivable' comment that remains one of her biggest regrets, reports Wales Online.
Who is Clare Balding married to?
Balding met her wife, fellow presenter Alice Arnold, back in 1999 when they were both working for the BBC. Initially good friends, their relationship took a romantic turn in 2002 when a national newspaper disclosed Balding's sexuality to the public.
The couple entered into a civil partnership in 2006 and later tied the knot in a private ceremony in 2015, following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Britain. Their marriage was backdated to acknowledge their initial commitment made in 2006.
Reflecting on her first encounter with Alice, Balding shared that she spotted her during a BBC programme without realising who she was. "I saw her and thought 'Oh, she's really interesting and rather beautiful'," she recalled.
"We started chatting and she's very funny. We were friends for at least two years."
Balding, aged 53, praised her partner as "fiercely loyal", likening her to a protective presence. "She would protect me and it's an incredible quality to have. It's like having your own little guard dog - it's amazing."
Alice has had a notable career with the BBC, including an extensive period on BBC Radio 4.
Balding, a prominent face on BBC Sport, has had relationships with men in the past, including one serious boyfriend who proposed to her. She declined the proposal, later discovering that he went on to "behave appallingly".
"I had a few boyfriends, not like loads. But I had one very serious boyfriend for two or three years," she disclosed. "He asked me to marry him and he was in the Army and he was going off. And I thought 'he's only asking me because he thinks he's in danger and, according to romantic films, I'm meant to say yes at this point'.
"I knew I didn't want to. I said 'Look, that's a lovely thing to say but ask me again when you come back'. When he came back he didn't ask me again, and I thought ''Thank God''. I thought 'I don't trust you and I'll never trust you' - and funnily enough I was absolutely spot on as his ex-wife told me not that long ago."
She went on: "That relationship ended not very well with him behaving appallingly. I think I was damaged by that, but that doesn't make you gay. I just think when I first fell in love with a woman it was completely different."
Cancer diagnosis.
In 2009, Balding disclosed that she had received a thyroid cancer diagnosis.
The broadcaster noticed the telltale signs, including a prominent lump on her neck, whilst watching herself on television - warning signs that can also include a persistent sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
After undergoing an operation to remove a cyst, her thyroid gland and a lymph node, she received radioactive iodine therapy to stop the cancer from returning. Despite concerns about potential damage to her voice and broadcasting career, she was given the all-clear by the end of 2010.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Balding said: "I had to have a little operation just before Christmas to take out a nasty little lymph node and there was a worry that I might have to have more treatment."
She also conveyed some heartening news: "But I had a lovely letter from my oncologist just after Christmas saying, 'Hurrah, no more treatment', so I'm very happy about that. 2011 is going to be a good one."
Reflecting on her health battle, she acknowledged experiencing a "dark stage" but emerged with a fresh perspective on life, confessing: "When I recovered, my attitude to life changed. I feel happy most days, grateful for all I have."
Broadcasting controversies
Despite being one of the UK's most esteemed broadcasters, Balding found herself embroiled in controversy during her coverage of the Paris Olympics. A conversation with former Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington led to unexpected backlash when viewers perceived a hint of classism.
The incident unfolded after pundit Mark Foster discussed how meeting Duncan Goodhew at his local swimming club had "inspired" him in his youth. Inquiring if Adlington had a similar inspiration, she responded: "To be fair, I didn't have somebody like that," which seemed to surprise Balding, who had a private education, prompting her to question: "No one came to your school? !".
The comment made by Clare Balding about Olympic medallists visiting schools sparked a backlash from some viewers, with one stating: "Of course Balding thought it TOTALLY NORMAL for Olympic medal winners to visit schools - because being privately educated and descended from nobility and privilege, this kind of thing is part of the cultural experience they expect."
Despite facing flak, BBC's Gabby Logan came to Balding's defence, replying to a critic: "I'm sure lots of what you say may be true about private school experiences, but it's certainly not true about the whole of the BBC. I went to a state school nobody visited, teachers were striking in the 80's, and no school trips. NB 'Speakers for Schools' is great charity."
Logan didn't stop there, clarifying her stance further: "Also to be clear I love my colleague and she's a great broadcaster. But a sweeping statement about the BBC needed addressing. Look at our OG line up across the day, we are a mixed bag from different backgrounds bringing all our many experiences to the way we communicate."
Previously, Balding had stirred controversy with her infamous comment to the late jockey Liam Treadwell after his Grand National triumph. She jokingly suggested he could now afford dental work, saying: "Liam, just give us a big grin to the camera, let's see your teeth. He hasn't got the best teeth in the world, but you can afford to go and get them done now if you like."
Treadwell, who sadly passed away in 2020 at just 34, replied with characteristic dignity: "Well I could do, but I ain't complaining. It might be bringing on bad luck if I do that, though."
The comment sparked outrage amongst viewers, resulting in over 2,000 complaints being lodged with Ofcom. Balding expressed remorse for her remarks, confessing: "It was a terrible thing to do. It coincided with my illness and I believed that was it for me – I would never work again. It was inexcusable and it taught me a big lesson."