Clare Balding reveals how she and spouse Alice Arnold have been an merchandise

Clare Balding has revealed that she discovered love along with her spouse Alice Arnold after skirting spherical a marriage proposal from a military boyfriend 21 years in the past. 

The couple, who’ve appeared collectively on Celebrity Gogglebox, met in 1999 when Alice was a Radio 4 announcer and newsreader – turning into buddies first, as they have been each with companions, earlier than their very own relationship started and progressed. 

Clare mentioned she by no means absolutely fell for boyfriends she had earlier than she discovered real love with Arnold, and was solely saved from her boyfriend’s proposal when he was posted away.

She and Alice married in 2015, however whereas these near them knew they have been a pair, they didn’t go public at first.

But Clare mentioned when she first began relationship and going out with guys, it was some time earlier than she realised she felt way more snug with girls.

Clare Balding has revealed that she discovered love along with her spouse Alice Arnold after skirting spherical a wedding proposal from a military boyfriend 21 years in the past

Balding, who at present presents sport for a number of channels, mentioned: ‘I had a couple of boyfriends, not like masses. But I had one very critical boyfriend for 2 or three years.

‘He requested me to marry him and he was within the Army and he was going off. And I assumed ‘he is solely asking me as a result of he thinks he is in peril and, in response to romantic movies, I’m meant to say sure at this level’.

‘And I knew I did not wish to. I mentioned ‘Look, that is a beautiful factor to say however ask me once more while you come again’.

‘And when he got here again he did not ask me once more, and I assumed ”Thank God”. I assumed ‘I do not belief you and I’ll by no means belief you’.

‘And funnily sufficient I used to be completely spot on as his ex-wife instructed me not that way back.’

Speaking to Gyles Brandreth on the Rosebud podcast, Clare mentioned: ‘But I wasn’t very good I do not suppose to males. There was a part of me they have been by no means going to be allowed to have.

‘That relationship ended not very properly with him behaving appallingly. I feel I used to be broken by that, however that does not make you homosexual. I simply suppose after I first fell in love with a girl it was utterly totally different.

‘Alice is by far and away the longest most critical relationship of my life.’

The couple met in 1999 and have become buddies first, as they have been each with companions, earlier than their very own relationship started and progressed

Alice described Balding as very constructive and ‘phenomenally variety’.

She mentioned: ‘Clare is requested continuously for favours. Clare would do every little thing that anyone requested her to.’

Clare described Alice as ‘fiercely loyal’, including: ‘She would shield me and it is an unbelievable high quality to have. It’s like having your individual little guard canine – it is superb.’

The BBC Sport star mentioned she first observed Alice at a BBC present, however didn’t know who she was.

She added: ‘I noticed her and thought ‘Oh, she’s actually attention-grabbing and somewhat stunning. We began chatting and she or he’s very humorous. We have been buddies for not less than two years.’

That first assembly didn’t have the identical affect on Arnold as she mentioned: ‘I did not suppose something. We have been each in different relationships.

‘Then she got here to dinner. I assumed you have been nice at what you probably did, however a relationship along with her was so not on the playing cards for me. I simply knew I preferred her and she or he was enjoyable.’

It was solely when Arnold’s relationship ended that their very own started after Balding went spherical to try to consolation Arnold as a shoulder to cry on.

Arnold continued: ‘She got here to my place. I do not actually drink, so I did not have any alcohol within the flat. Clare got here in and I mentioned ‘I have never bought any drink, so why do not I’m going and get some, I’ll go to the off-licence, and also you keep right here’.

‘But Clare took that as ‘you keep right here endlessly’. She by no means left.

‘So principally I went out to get a bottle of wine and after I bought again her toothbrush was unpacked, she had principally moved into my flat.’

Clare mentioned: ‘Gyles, it labored.’

It was on a visit to the ski slope at Milton Keynes that Alice first instructed Clare she cherished her

It was on a visit to the ski slope at Milton Keynes that Arnold first instructed Balding she cherished her.

Arnold mentioned: ‘Clare was so candy with me, and sort, and beautiful, and delicate. I feel I mentioned within the automotive on the way in which again ”I really like you”.

Balding mentioned: ‘I feel I’d mentioned it 1,500 occasions by then. I used to depart notes on the steps.’

They mentioned they now get pleasure from taking part in golf collectively and at present have huge plans for a brand new dream home.

Balding mentioned: ‘We’ve bought huge plans for flattening and constructing a home.’