BBC presenter Clare Balding will lead coverage of the Winter Olympics after opening up about an ultimatum from her wife and her own controversial comments
Clare Balding will front the BBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympic Games. The 55-year-old will be accompanied by fellow presenters Hazel Irvine and Jeanette Kwakye in hosting the broadcaster’s coverage of Milano Cortina 2026 this month.
Balding is a familiar face on British television, having fronted the evening swimming sessions and opening ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympics, alongside other major sporting occasions including Wimbledon, the Commonwealth Games and the Grand National.
The esteemed broadcaster boasts three decades of experience, establishing her as one of the BBC’s most well-known presenters. Naturally, there is plenty of curiosity about her personal life, as Mirror Sport now offers a detailed look into Balding’s world away from the spotlight.
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Who is Clare Balding’s wife?
Balding entered a civil partnership with former BBC newsreader Alice Arnold in 2006. She has spoken candidly about their relationship since they initially met while both working at the Beeb in 1999.
Beginning as close friends, their friendship developed into a romantic relationship in 2002 after a national newspaper publicly disclosed Balding’s sexuality. The couple took the next step in their partnership following the legalisation of same-sex marriage, exchanging vows in 2015.
One of the many instances in which Balding commented on their relationship was after turning down an appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, despite her love for the iconic BBC show. Given her self-confessed “hopeless” dancing, Arnold issued a firm stance on her participation, joking that she would leave Balding if she were ever to try her luck at dancing on TV.
“It’s not something anybody needs to see, it’s not. Alice has very strong feelings about this,” Balding told Alison Hammond on the Smart TV podcast. “When the request came through, she said, ‘You can say yes to that if you like, but I won’t be here when you come back.'”
In response, Hammond said she understood the “ultimatum” and claimed the show “does split people up”, referring to the so-called Strictly curse. The term is used to describe relationship break-ups that can occur amongst contestants or professionals, during or shortly after they’ve competed on the show. Hammond went on to suggest that watching a partner dance with somebody else “has got to hurt a little” too, to which Balding agreed.
In 2024, Balding spoke about the loss of their beloved Tibetan terrier Archie, who had passed away four years earlier. She revealed that they had been searching for a new dog but didn’t want to rush the decision.
Speaking on the Alright, Pet? podcast at the Good Woof festival in 2024, she explained: “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.” She stated that once their housing work is complete, she and Arnold will think about getting another dog.
Balding went one step further in an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine last year, revealing: “When we get another, the first job of the day will be a walk in the gardens at Chiswick House. Dogs bring structure to your day. I’d like a poodle because they are super intelligent. Actually, I’d like two, but I haven’t told Alice yet.”
What was Clare Balding’s ‘inexcusable’ comment?
Despite being one of Britain’s most highly regarded presenters, Balding became embroiled in controversy in April 2009, during her own battle with thyroid cancer. She caused a stir with a remark she made on air about the late jockey Liam Treadwell just moments after he had won the Grand National.
Commenting that he could now afford dental work with his prize money, Balding remarked: “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 tragically passed away in 2020 at the age of 34, responded: “Well, I could do but I ain’t complaining. It might be bringing on bad luck if I do that, though.”
The incident sparked outrage among viewers, with over 2,000 complaints lodged with Ofcom after the race. Balding later said: “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.”
In 2009, Balding underwent operations to remove a cyst and her thyroid gland, with concerns about her voice leaving her worried about her broadcasting future. She announced she had been given the all-clear in January 2011, following a final procedure to remove a lymph node shortly before Christmas 2010.
How much weight did Clare Balding lose?
Balding has undergone a remarkable weight loss transformation, attributing her success to a major shift in her daily habits. She committed to walking regularly as her primary form of exercise, achieving an impressive 12,000 steps daily. Combined with playing golf, this has played a key role in her weight loss journey.
She revealed the benefits she’s experienced during a candid conversation with Radio 4: “I know how much the walking helps me because it gets you out for quite a long time. It’s not a painful sort of exercise; you don’t feel like you’re suffering. And it’s a great way to get to know your local area.”
By making a simple yet effective lifestyle change, Balding successfully shed around 1.4 stone. She previously found shopping for clothes to be a distressing experience, sometimes leaving her in tears in fitting rooms because nothing seemed to fit. Determined to overcome her feelings of inadequacy, she decided it was time for a transformation.
Determined to address these feelings of self-doubt, she realised the moment had arrived for change. “Sometimes you do need a kick up the bum and I think I did,” she added. “I wasn’t feeling great last summer and I thought it would be a good time to start eating more salads, fruits and rice cakes. The main thing is I walk like crazy. I walk the dog every day for an hour in the morning and 40 minutes in the evening. I walk at 4mph, which is pretty quick.
“I also play golf and go to the gym occasionally with Alice but not often, as I’m not a member. I do lots of special sit-ups, too, which my sister-in-law showed me. They really hurt. I’m not obsessed about losing weight but I feel so much healthier. It can be depressing to go shopping when you’re not the size you want to be, so it’s much more fun now.”
She gave up pasta and bread, embracing a low-carb diet and trying to curb her sugar consumption. Balding has also entirely changed her approach to drinking alcohol, choosing a gin and tonic over red wine.
What’s Clare Balding’s BBC salary?
The presenter has amassed a tidy fortune from her extensive television career. She’s comfortably believed to be a millionaire, thanks in large part to her BBC salary.
The last time she appeared on their annual salary list in 2023, her wage was between £178,000 – £184,999. This was a drop from the previous year when her yearly pay was between £205,000-£209,999.
In addition to her TV work, she’s written several books and made £538,472 in the year ending October 2014 from her books and TV appearances, as reported by The Guardian. Balding further boosted her net worth last year by participating in the BBC’s first series of The Celebrity Traitors, where each participant received a flat fee of around £30,000-£40,000.
Watch Winter Olympics 2026 live on discovery+
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games is running from February 6-22 and fans can enjoy more than 850 hours of action live on discovery+ via Prime Video.
Throughout the games, the £3.99 discovery+ Entertainment subscription will provide access to TNT Sports 2, the home of 24/7 Olympic coverage.
