I really love good food occasionally, but I need time to enjoy it, and I need to be hungry. – Clare Balding
Very rarely will you listen to the radio in a judgmental way, the way you’ll watch telly. – Clare Balding
If you are fearful, a horse will back off. If you are calm and confident, it will come forward. For those who are often flattered or feared, the horse can be a welcome mirror of the best in human nature. – Clare Balding
When you’re little, your father is your hero. Mine was. Then it all becomes more complicated. – Clare Balding
I’ve had so many things, good and bad, said about me. I’m way beyond worrying about what people say. – Clare Balding
I hate the fact that public schools like the one I went to have fantastic sports facilities, and state schools don’t. That’s not fair. That’s outrageous. – Clare Balding
Particularly when you’re young, you’re terribly flattered by people who like you, so you think you love them. – Clare Balding
Sport develops your brain. It helps your learning. It’s not an add-on at the end of the day. – Clare Balding
If you look back at British history, women being allowed to play sport in schools meant they had to change their clothing. They couldn’t be running around in their long skirts and corsets, because you can’t. – Clare Balding
I cannot be a placard waver for every campaign; that’s why I have mostly kept quiet about gay marriage. – Clare Balding
I find people interesting. People trying hard are interesting. People with a passion are interesting – whether it’s old cars or taxidermy or knitting. – Clare Balding
Like so many kids, I just wanted to fit in, and I see now that I spent most of my life trying to be what I wasn’t, trying to get people to like me. – Clare Balding
Swimming and athletics are the big gigs at the Olympic games. Cycling and rowing are pretty big for Britain, but globally, the two big things are athletics and swimming. – Clare Balding
Sports commentating is the answer for a restless brain like mine. I can never get bored because there is an infinite amount to know. – Clare Balding
I think I can be spiritual, and I can feel that I want to live well, I want to do things that I’m proud of, and I think that’s important. Now, do I need a church to tell me that? Actually, no, I don’t. – Clare Balding
Women’s sport helps break down a lot of barriers for women in other areas, whether in religion or politics. – Clare Balding
I don’t make decisions for money or popularity. I do things because they’re right for me, and they’re interesting and challenging. – Clare Balding
Dad is a really surprising guy. Every time I think he’s going to be useless, he ends up doing something amazing and saying exactly the right thing. – Clare Balding
It had become boring to write: ‘I like Clare Balding’. To say: ‘I don’t like Clare Balding’ is much more newsworthy. – Clare Balding
