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Wales Online
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Clare Balding's 'appalling' boyfriend and moment she spotted her cancer while on TV
Clare Balding's 'appalling' boyfriend and moment she spotted her cancer while on TV Wimbledon host Clare Balding has become one of the nation's most respected sports presenters during a 30-year career that has seen her front huge events and shows for the likes of the BBC, Channel 4 and BT Sport Clare Balding at Wimbledon (Image: Getty Images ) Clare Balding is once again in the middle of a very busy summer as she fronts the BBC's Wimbledon coverage. With three decades in broadcasting under her belt, Balding has become one of the UK's most esteemed and recognisable presenters, having also led coverage of major sporting events like the Olympics, Grand National and Commonwealth Games. Her popularity has inevitably drawn attention to her life off-screen, with her personal relationships and even some controversies making headlines over the years. Here's a look at Balding's life away from the studio, including her journey to openly embracing her sexuality, her 'appalling' ex-boyfriend, and an 'inexcusable' comment that remains one of her biggest regrets, reports Wales Online. Who is Clare Balding's wife? Balding met her wife, fellow broadcaster Alice Arnold, in 1999 while both were working for the BBC. Initially just good friends, they began dating in 2002 when a national newspaper publicly disclosed Balding's sexuality. The couple entered into a civil partnership in 2006 and later married in a private ceremony in 2015 following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the UK. Their marriage was then back-dated to their original 2006 commitment. Reflecting on her initial encounter with Alice, Balding shared that she first spotted her at a BBC show without knowing who she was. "I saw her and thought 'Oh, she's really interesting and rather beautiful'," she recalled. Article continues below "We started chatting and she's very funny. We were friends for at least two years." Describing her spouse as "fiercely loyal", the 53 year old presenter added: "She would protect me and it's an incredible quality to have. It's like having your own little guard dog - it's amazing." Balding, a familiar face on BBC Sport, had previously been in relationships with men and even received a marriage proposal from one of her ex-boyfriends. However, she declined the offer and expressed no regrets about her decision, revealing that he later 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 elaborated: "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 the year 2009, Clare Balding shared the news that she had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The broadcaster noticed the tell-tale signs including a lump on her throat while she watched herself on television, symptoms of which can include a persistent sore throat and difficulty swallowing. She received treatment involving radioactive iodine to combat the spread of the disease after undergoing surgery to remove a cyst, her thyroid gland and a lymph node. Despite concerns about the effect of her illness on her voice and her ability to work, she was given the all-clear at the end of 2010. Recounting 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 further revealed receiving some positive 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 journey, she confessed she endured a "dark stage" due to her health challenges but emerged with a newfound appreciation for life, confessing: "When I recovered, my attitude to life changed. I feel happy most days, grateful for all I have." TV rows While Balding is widely regarded as one of the UK's most esteemed presenters, she recently found herself embroiled in controversy during her coverage of the Paris Olympics. In a conversation with former Olympic swimming champion Rebecca Adlington, Balding appeared "incredulous" upon hearing that no Olympians had visited Adlington's school during her childhood. This prompted accusations of classism from viewers. The discussion unfolded after fellow pundit Mark Foster recounted how an encounter with Duncan Goodhew at his local swimming club had "inspired" him when he was younger. When asked if she had experienced something similar, Adlington responded: "To be fair, I didn't have somebody like that," leading to a seemingly astonished Balding, who attended private school, to ask: "No one came to your school? !". This comment sparked outrage among 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 the backlash, BBC colleague Gabby Logan came to Balding's defence, replying to a viewer: "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." Afterwards, Logan clarified: "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." Clare Balding previously stirred controversy with her infamous comment to the late jockey Liam Treadwell after his Grand National win. She light-heartedly suggested that 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." Article continues below Treadwell, who sadly passed away in 2020 at the age of 34, replied in good humour: "Well I could do, but I ain't complaining. It might be bringing on bad luck if I do that, though." The quip did not sit well with viewers, resulting in over 2,000 complaints being lodged with Ofcom. Balding expressed remorse over her words, conceding: "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."
Wales Online
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Gareth Bale's deep Cardiff City connections, the close call and his exciting ambition
Gareth Bale's deep Cardiff City connections, the close call and his exciting ambition The Wales legend is keen on getting involved with his home town club Gareth Bale holds up a retro Cardiff City top back in 2019 (Image: BT Sport ) Gareth Bale's glittering career means he's just about seen everything in football. Five Champions League titles, three major tournaments with Wales, including a first World Cup since 1958, and a host of other honours. There have been plenty of highlights during his glittering 17-year career. And yet, there's perhaps some unfinished business for Bale, who seems ready to return to football for the first time since hanging up his boots two years ago. The former Wales skipper has confirmed he is fronting a consortium interested in purchasing hometown club Cardiff City, with a bid to buy out current majority owner Vincent Tan already knocked back. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community The expectation is Bale and co will try again, but it remains to be seen whether a deal can realistically be struck. Of course, this isn't the first summer Cardiff fans have spent thinking about arguably the greatest player in the history of Welsh football. After all, he was heavily linked with a move to the capital as a player back in the summer of 2022 before eventually signing on for LAFC. Article continues below Given that saga ultimately ended in disappointment, one would forgive Cardiff fans for tempering any excitement a little this time around. But while he never played for them, Cardiff is a club that is clearly still close to Bale's heart, as evidenced by his recent claims that the completion of any deal would be 'a dream come true'. His connections to City have been there long before he ever pulled on a pair of boots too. His uncle Chris Pike made more than 150 appearances for the club between 1989 and 1993, and it was also the club Bale used to watch as a boy. "When I was younger I went to watch a few games and obviously Cardiff is my home city," he said in an interview back in 2019, clutching a retro Cardiff jersey to boot. "I always look out for Cardiff wherever I am, check the scores and check they're doing well." Clearly in recent years, Bale will have been bitterly disappointed at the fortunes of his boyhood team, and the challenge of getting them back to the top flight appears to be the main ambition of the prospective new regime. "It's a club close to my heart," he reiterated recently. "It's where I grew up and I would love to be able to be a part of growing Cardiff and taking it to the Premier League where it belongs." Bale's proposed stake isn't yet known, but it seems he wouldn't step in as majority owner, and would instead take a stake comparable to that taken by former Real Madrid team-mate and close pal Luka Modric at Swansea City. It's understood Modric actually consulted Bale before completing his own move, and the friendship between the pair would potentially add a fascinating dynamic to the south Wales rivalry. Then again, it wouldn't be the first time Bale has gone head-to-head with a Swans-supporting friend. While at Tottenham together, Bale and Joe Rodon publicly exchanged their respective opinions on the ongoing rivalry. "Cardiff's a bigger club, I said, because they've won the FA Cup," Bale said during a Q and A with the pair, also adding that he supported Cardiff. Article continues below "He [Joe] obviously disagrees because he's a Swan, but then he'll go to me 'you've never played for Cardiff'." "They can't claim you. Cardiff cannot claim him," Rodon then chimed in. At the time, the centre-back perhaps had a point. If Bale completes a deal, however, he might have to revaluate that opinion.
Daily Mirror
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'F***ing hell Rio!' Laura Woods turns air blue in unseen TNT Sports footage
Rio Ferdinand signed off 10 years with TNT Sports at Saturday's Champions League final in Munich but he got on the wrong side of presenter Laura Woods pre-match Laura Woods dropped an F-bomb after Rio Ferdinand accidentally interrupted her preparation ahead of the Champions League final. Ferdinand's 10-year spell working as a pundit for TNT Sports, formerly known as BT Sport, came to an end on Saturday, having announced his departure in the week leading up to the final at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The match saw Paris Saint-Germain thrash Inter Milan 5-0 to break a Champions League record. Before the game, presenter Woods was working on her introduction while they were still off air. But she was left peeved off when Manchester United legend Ferdinand ambled across the camera. Woods, 37, shared the footage from pre-match on social media. As Ferdinand walked right in front of the camera, she couldn't help but say: "F***ing hell Rio," before putting her microphone down and laughing to herself. Woods joked: "That was going to be some of my best work ever," as Ferdinand walked back in front. The 81-time England international then took the microphone away from Woods, who was explaining that she was doing a practice take. The pair were next heard sharing a laugh. Ferdinand continued by holding the mic to Woods' mouth before pulling it away. Realising that he was actually in shot, Ferdinand apologised to Woods. At the end of TNT's coverage, Woods set Ferdinand up to say farewell. "Rio, before we leave, just one final goodbye," she began. "From us here at TNT Sport, to you. That is it for your career here, for now. "Can I just say on behalf of all of us - including everyone behind the camera - you've been an absolute pleasure. And personally since I joined, you've been so incredibly welcoming. You'll be sorely, sorely missed." Where does Rio Ferdinand rank among your favourite pundits? Have your say in the comments section. Ferdinand responded by saying: "I just want to say thank you to everybody that I've worked with,. My job was made a lot easier by the great people and friends that I have worked with and will remain friends for many years. "As important as the people you see on the screen are the people behind the screen that do all the jobs to get us here and enable us to put our best foot forward are all appreciated. Again, thank you to everybody who has been a part of it." Ferdinand's colleague, Steven Gerrard, asked him if he going to have a cold beer, to which the 46-year-old replied: "All the beers are on me!"
The National
01-06-2025
- Sport
- The National
Champions League Final 2025: How to watch for free in UK
Europe's major club competition will involve French champions PSG, who will be hoping to win the tournament for the first time. Their only previous appearance in the final was in the 2019-20 season, where they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Inter Milan has won the Champions League on three separate occasions, although they lost their most recent final 1-0 to Manchester City in the 2022-23 season. The Italian side also missed out on domestic honours on the final day of the Serie A season, as Napoli pipped them to first place, so they'll be hoping to make up for that with European success. Champions League matches have only been available to watch through TNT Sports up until this stage of the competition, but viewers are able to see the final for free. How to watch the Champions League final 2025 for free For people in the UK to watch the 2025 Champions League final for free, they will need to do so on discovery+. To access the service, you will need to register for a free account on the website. After registration, you can access the service via an app or on a smart TV. EE customers and Sky customers can also get discovery+ as part of their package. Can you watch the Champions League final on YouTube? Up until the 2023/24 season, the major European finals were streamed live on the BT Sport YouTube channel. However, that is no longer the case, as BT Sport has merged with Eurosport under the TNT Sports brand. All of their live coverage comes under the umbrella of discovery+ online, so they have made the choice to keep coverage to their service. Recommended reading: Where will the Champions League final take place? The 2025 Champions League final will be hosted at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. It is the home of Bundesliga side Bayern Munich and has a capacity of more than 70,000. The match is scheduled for an 8 pm BST kick-off on Saturday, May 31.
North Wales Chronicle
31-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Champions League Final 2025: How to watch for free in UK
Europe's major club competition will involve French champions PSG, who will be hoping to win the tournament for the first time. Their only previous appearance in the final was in the 2019-20 season, where they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Inter Milan has won the Champions League on three separate occasions, although they lost their most recent final 1-0 to Manchester City in the 2022-23 season. Two days to go 🏆 #UCLfinal The Italian side also missed out on domestic honours on the final day of the Serie A season, as Napoli pipped them to first place, so they'll be hoping to make up for that with European success. Champions League matches have only been available to watch through TNT Sports up until this stage of the competition, but viewers are able to see the final for free. For people in the UK to watch the 2025 Champions League final for free, they will need to do so on discovery+. To access the service, you will need to register for a free account on the website. What do you notice? 🤔#UCLfinal After registration, you can access the service via an app or on a smart TV. EE customers and Sky customers can also get discovery+ as part of their package. Up until the 2023/24 season, the major European finals were streamed live on the BT Sport YouTube channel. However, that is no longer the case, as BT Sport has merged with Eurosport under the TNT Sports brand. All of their live coverage comes under the umbrella of discovery+ online, so they have made the choice to keep coverage to their service. Recommended reading: Match Of The Day fans say it 'won't be the same' without Gary Lineker amid exit Pubs across the country to stay open longer this summer - but on one condition See the 10 stadiums in the UK and Ireland that will host Euro 2028 matches The 2025 Champions League final will be hosted at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. It is the home of Bundesliga side Bayern Munich and has a capacity of more than 70,000. The match is scheduled for an 8 pm BST kick-off on Saturday, May 31.
