Clare Balding agrees new two-year deal with Channel 4

Clare Balding has agreed a new two-year deal with Channel 4 which will see the BAFTA-award winning presenter and journalist anchoring the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, continuing her hosting of Crufts for 2015 and 2016 and leading coverage of the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot in 2015. As part of the new agreement, Clare will be scaling back her anchor coverage of Racing post Royal Ascot 2015.

Clare Balding said: "I have been lucky and honoured to work as a racing broadcaster for the past twenty years and will continue to promote the sport on and off screen.  I look forward to working with the enormously talented Channel 4 Racing team at Cheltenham and Royal Ascot next year and, of course, to the Paralympics in Rio in 2016."

Ed Havard, Channel 4’s Head of Live Events said: “Clare is a broadcaster at the very top of her game and I’m delighted that we will be continuing to work with her on our racing coverage and the Rio Paralympics in 2016.”

Clare was lead presenter of Channel 4’s London 2012 Paralympic Games coverage alongside Ade Adepitan.  Channel 4’s coverage won a BAFTA for best sport and live event coverage and helped to change attitudes towards disability. 

Channel 4 is continuing to invest significantly in its racing coverage and the team will welcome a range of expert presenters and guests throughout the next year including Frankie Dettori and other top jockeys and racing figures. Full details of the presenting team and coverage plans for The Crabbie’s Grand National Festival will be announced in early 2015.