Clare Balding and her wife Alice Arnold are preparing to make a huge family move to the countryside, but Clare admits she will struggle with one part of it
Clare Balding admits she will feel “upset” as she prepares to make a big personal change with wife Alice Arnold. The couple are planning a major “house clear-out” in the coming months as they prepare to swap their London life for the countryside.
The couple currently live in Chiswick. Clare used to walk their Tibetan terrier Archie along the Thames towpath and around the grounds of Chiswick House.
However the couple faced a heart-wrenching moment in 2020 when they had to have their beloved pet put down. The TV star says he left a “dog-shaped hole in their hearts” ever since.
The move to the countryside will allow 54-year-old Clare to welcome a new furry friend into their lives. But first, the self-confessed “hoarder” will need to tackle a significant clearout before the move.
Speaking to Woman and Home magazine about her worst habits, Clare, said: “I’m not very tidy. And I’m a bit of a hoarder. We’re about to do a massive house clear-out ahead of a move, which is really going to upset me because I don’t like getting rid of things.”
Clare is hopeful that the move away from the hustle and bustle of London will provide a “good environment” for a new dog. Speaking to The Times, she shared: “We’re looking to move out of London, and one of the main reasons for that is to have a bit more space and protection from the road so it’s a good environment for a dog.
“As soon as we’re settled, it’s our plan – probably next spring. I smile at the thought of having a dog back in our lives.”
Clare had previously told MailOnline how she longs for “everything a dog brings” to her world, from crisp winter walks to the “enthusiastic greeting” Archie would give her when she came home from work.
She called Archie the “perfect dog” because of his non-moulting fur, which was essential for Alice, who has dog allergies. Clare, who presents Crufts on Channel 4, said: “Tibetan terriers are small enough to pick up but strong enough to go on long walks.
“They are intelligent, loyal and full of character. They are good guard dogs but don’t yap without cause.”
In Clare’s autobiography Isle of Dogs, Alice disclosed that letting her wife have a four-legged friend was one of the “original commitments” she made early in their relationship, promising she would “never go back” on that vow. The former Radio 4 host confirms they will eventually get another dog, meaning Clare will “no longer have to go on long walks without a lead in her hand”.
Clare shot to stardom on BBC National Radio in the 1990s, with stints on Radio One, Radio Two and Radio 4 as well as 5Live. She has broadcast from sporting occasions such as the Olympic Games and Wimbledon throughout her career.
Clare has also fronted Channel 4 Racing, including coverage of Royal Ascot, and even hosted her own programme, The Clare Balding Show on BT Sport and BBC Two. Currently, she hosts Ramblings, a Radio 4 series about the great outdoors.
Clare is set to feature on Celebrity Traitors when it broadcasts in October.