Clare Balding is one of the most recognisable faces on our TV screens. After joining the BBC back in 1994, the broadcaster has become synonymous with the channel's sports coverage and has fronted various major events from the Olympic Games to Wimbledon, Crufts and the Paralympic Games.
But what about Clare's life away from the cameras? Find out all we know, from her career as a horse jockey to her marriage to former newsreader Alice Arnold.
Clare's career as a jockey
While Clare, 55, is best known for her illustrious broadcasting career, she had a very different job before joining the BBC. From 1988 to 1993, Balding was a leading amateur flat jockey and Champion Lady Rider in 1990. Having grown up in a horse-racing family, Clare has always been passionate about the sport. Her late father, Ian, was a well-known horse trainer who trained 1971 Derby winner Mill Reef, while her brother Andrew is also a trainer.
© @clarebalding/InstagramOn her lifelong love of riding, Clare previously told Sheer Luxe: "I loved the feeling that there was something on this planet I could do well. Riding also had that sense of freedom and the adrenaline rush of doing something that was slightly dangerous, like jumping things that were a bit bigger than you might consider normal. It was just fun, really fun."
Replica Luxury Handbag life with wife Alice Arnold
Clare and Alice, 64, have been together for over two decades. After first meeting back in 1999, the pair bonded over their love of sports and were initially just friends before the relationship turned romantic in 2002. Like Clare, Alice is also a broadcaster. She joined the BBC in 1989 and worked as a continuity announcer and newsreader for over 20 years until 2012. As of 2026, Alice currently presents Mellow Magic Breakfast on the weekends, and she's also joined Clare in episodes of Celebrity Gogglebox.
© ShutterstockWhen they first met, Clare hadn't come out about her sexuality. "Alice explained to me that if you have a relationship that is not as open as a straight couple, then you are contributing to that feeling of shame," the journalist told The Times in 2018. "I was hiding something and that impacted on my family life and my work as a presenter. Coming out had a huge impact — suddenly I was happy and comfortable."
While Alice was a little apprehensive about being in a relationship with a public figure, she soon realised that she and Clare were "good sounding boards" for one another.
© @clarebalding/Instagram"To begin with I was especially concerned that Clare was in the media spotlight," Alice admitted. "I didn't want to be with someone who needed looking after. I didn’t want the imbalance of being the housewife to her success. As I got to know her, I realised she is not high maintenance at all. In fact, because we both come from a media background, we are good sounding boards for each other. We are very honest in our guidance of each other."
Clare and Alice entered into a civil partnership at Chiswick House in 2006 and later tied the knot in 2015 at the same location. Speaking with HELLO! in September 2025, Clare credited their relationship with providing major inspiration for her debut novel, Pastures New. "One of the things I wanted to write about in my novel was about falling in love because I thought 'I know that'," she explained. "I know what real, deep love is and meeting someone I want to grow old with. Lucky, lucky me."
© ShutterstockSharing a glimpse into their married life, Clare revealed what's next for herself and Alice. According to the Crufts presenter, since losing their beloved elderly Tibetan terrier, Archie, who he died in 2020, she and Alice have felt a "canine-shaped hole" in their lives, and they're hoping to rectify that. "We’re looking to move out of London in the near future, and one of the main reasons for that is to have a bit more space and protection from the road so that it’s a good environment for a dog," Clare told HELLO!. "As soon as we’re settled, it’s definitely our plan – probably next spring. I just smile at the thought of having a dog back in our lives."
Clare's cancer diagnosis
Clare was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2009. After having her thyroid removed and undergoing radioactive iodine treatment, the presenter got the all-clear in 2011. Appearing on BBC Radio 2's French and Saunders programme at the time, Clare 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.
© Helen Murray"But I had a lovely letter from my oncologist just after Christmas saying, 'Hurrah, no more treatment', so I'm very happy about that," she revealed, adding: "2011 is going to be a good one."
