Clare Balding’s ex-boyfriend, marriage, past controversies and net worth

, the esteemed presenter, has had a busy year co-hosting ‘s coverage of the Paralympic Games in Paris. The veteran broadcaster visited the French capital twice following her stint presenting the for the earlier this summer.

With three decades of broadcasting experience, Balding has cemented her status as one of the UK’s most respected and recognisable hosts, having also spearheaded coverage for other significant sporting events like the Grand National, the Commonwealth Games and Wimbledon.

However, her popularity has cast a spotlight on her off-screen life, with elements of her personal life, relationships and even some controversies making headlines over the years.

Here’s an in-depth look at Balding’s life outside the studio, from her concerns about revealing her sexuality and her ‘appalling’ ex-boyfriend to the ‘inexcusable’ comment that remains one of her biggest regrets.

Famous wife and ‘appalling’ ex-boyfriend

Balding first crossed paths with her now-wife, fellow broadcaster Alice Arnold, in 1999 while both were working for the . Initially just close friends, their relationship took a romantic turn in 2002 when a national newspaper publicly disclosed Balding’s sexuality, reports .

The pair solidified their bond with a civil partnership in 2006 and officially married in a private ceremony in 2015, following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the UK. Their marriage was subsequently backdated to their 2006 union.

Reminiscing about the moment she first saw her future wife, Balding revealed that she noticed Arnold at a show without knowing who she was. “I saw her and thought ‘Oh, she’s really interesting and rather beautiful’,” Balding remembered.

“We started chatting and she’s very funny. We were friends for at least two years.”

The 53 year old presenter spoke warmly of her wife’s loyalty, saying: “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 also reflected on her previous relationships with men, including a serious proposal from an ex-boyfriend which she turned down.

She rationalised her decision, stating: “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 disclosed: “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.”

Net worth

Throughout her television career, Balding has accumulated a substantial sum. According to estimates as of August 2024, her net worth stands at around the £1million mark, largely attributable to her earnings from the .

Her salary ranged between £205,000 and £209,999 according to the corporations list of highest-paid stars for the fiscal year 2022/23, although she was absent from the 2023/24 list.

Balding often refers to the London 2012 Olympics as the pivotal moment of her career. Speaking to ITV’s Lorraine Kelly, she remarked: “It changed so many people’s lives. It changed my life, it changed everything. I look back to that summer of positivity and everyone being so excited about what the next event was.”

“You’d be swinging from rowing to athletics to show jumping. Everyone was fixated on the glory of it. That’s why I get excited about it. It’s everybody together in that shared experience.”

Cancer diagnosis

In 2009, Balding revealed her thyroid cancer diagnosis. The broadcaster spotted a lump on her throat while viewing herself on television, which led her to seek medical advice.

Symptoms such as a persistent sore throat, difficulty swallowing and a noticeable lump in the neck resulted in her diagnosis. Balding underwent radioactive iodine treatment after having a cyst, her thyroid gland, and a lymph node removed.

Despite worries about the potential impact on her voice and career, she was given the all-clear at the end of 2010.

“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 disclosed at the time. “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, Balding confessed to going through a “dark stage” during her illness. Her recovery brought about a significant change in her perspective on life, leading her to feel content and grateful most days.

Controversy

Balding found herself in the midst of controversy while covering the Olympics in Paris earlier this year. During a chat with former Olympic swimming champion Rebecca Adlington, Balding seemed “incredulous” upon learning that no Olympians had visited Adlington’s school during her childhood, leading some viewers to accuse her of classism.

The incident unfolded as co-commentator Mark Foster recounted how an encounter with Duncan Goodhew at his local swimming club had “inspired” him in his younger days.

When Adlington was questioned about similar experiences, she replied: “To be fair, I didn’t have somebody like that,” which led to Balding’s astonished reaction as she, a product of private education, asked: “No one came to your school?!”.

This remark ignited dissatisfaction among certain viewers, with one taking to Twitter to comment: “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 upset, ‘s Gabby Logan stood by Balding, responding to a dissenter: “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 . 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 continued to express admiration for her colleague, clarifying: “Also to be clear I love my colleague and she’s a great broadcaster. But a sweeping statement about the 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 faced backlash for a tactless remark towards jockey Liam Treadwell, who had secured victory at the Grand National. During the broadcast, Balding teased: “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, whose untimely death occurred in 2020 when he was just 34, good-naturedly responded at the time: “Well I could do, but I ain’t complaining. It might be bringing on bad luck if I do that, though.”

The episode prompted over 2,000 complaints to Ofcom, provoking public indignation. Balding later acknowledged: “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.”