All you need to know about television sports presenter Claire Balding
Claire Balding is a very familiar face, but who is she and how did she get into television sports presenting?
Who is Claire Balding?
Claire Balding is one of our top sports presenters. She has been presenting sport since 1994 and today is at the helm of many our top sporting occasions, from Wimbledon to the Olympics.
How old is Claire Balding
Claire Balding was born on 29 January 1971
Where did she grow up?
Claire 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. Claire’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 Claire 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, Claire 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 Claire 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?
Claire 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?
Claire has written a couple of autobiographies called 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 Claire Balding married?
Claire entered a civil partnership with her longtime partner Alice Arnold in 2006 and the couple married in 2015.
Has Claire Balding had cancer?
Clair was successfully treated for thyroid cancer in 2009.
Where does Claire Balding live?
Claire 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.