BBC presenter and sports commentator Clare Balding will be providing us with coverage of the Tokyo Olympic Games, but who is her wife and why doesn’t she always wear her wedding ring?
The 50-year-old host and commentator came out as a lesbian in 2003 after previously revealing that she hid her sexuality for almost 10 years because she was worried she may be “discriminated against”.
Clare wrote about what it was like to come out as a lesbian, saying: “The fear of how you imagine people will react to you speaking out is often much worse than the reality. Most people were really kind and supportive.”
(Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)
In 1999 Clare and Alice were both working at the BBC and were good friends before becoming romantically involved with each other.
The pair entered into a civil partnership in 2006, before gay marriage was legalised in the UK.
But in 2015 after it was made legal, they had an official wedding ceremony, and their marriage is now backdated to when they entered into a civil partnership – meaning they have been married since 2006.
(Image: clarebalding/Instagram)
Clare spoke about same-sex marriage while on The Jonathan Ross Show: “It’s about equality,” she said, “It’s just about knowing that you can and knowing that you can say: ‘I’m married’. And nobody’s going to think that’s married in inverted commas… I think it’s great.”
Clare sparked concern on Twitter after she was spotted covering the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil in 2016 – without her wedding ring.
(Image: clarebalding/Instagram)
Her fans and followers took to Twitter to share their concern as they left wondering why the commentator wasn’t wearing her wedding band.
Alice took to social media to ease people’s minds, explaining that Clare was advised not to travel with her ring in case it got lost abroad.
She put out a tweet to put an end to any rumours, where she said: “I’m amazed how many have noticed @clarebalding is not wearing her wedding ring..don’t worry..it’s safely at home with me…”
Clare Balding started out as a trainee journalist at the BBC in 1994.
(Image: PA Wire/Press Association Images)
Starting out with the National Radio division at the BBC, Clare trained at 5 Live, Radio 1 (presenting the sport on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show), Radio 2 and Radio 4.
She has gone on to have a successful career as the main and most recognised female sports anchors on British TV.
The 50-year-old host and commentator, has covered many major sporting events including six Olympic Games, Channel 4’s Paralympics, Wimbledon and the Sports Personality Of The Year Awards.
Although sports is her main niche, Clare has also reported and commentated on major Royal events like the Trooping the Colour and the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding.
Clare’s wife Alice is also a broadcaster a journalist.
She was a newsreader and continuity announcer on BBC Radio 4 for more than twenty years until the end of December 2012.
Since leaving the BBC she has written for The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
