Clare Balding is irritating AIBU?

@goldtrap I would imagine they are too old to compete so are groupie journalists? Clare had to ask them to explain. I have really enjoyed the competitions but we need better explanations.

Ive just bought Gordon Ramsey gin on amazon...hope its not got his face on the back because I wont be able to drink it for laughing and thinking of clare balding. 🤣🤣🤣

Can’t stand her! She seems just like a bossy school hockey captain.
Give me Hazel Irvine or Gabby Logan any day.

You can have too much of a good thing. All the presenters I like, I go off when they are rolled out continously.

She doesn't just pretend she knows about tennis and skiing, she does know about them, because she is conscientious and good at her job. They get her to do all these jobs because she can. Good on her.

Hard agree. DD said, what do these blokes actually do the rest of the time?

They were laughing last night, saying, oh we've had messages come in, what's a goofy, what's a 123, lol lol.
Yes, well, you know... explain. It's your one chance!

@YellingAway The issue was it doesn’t get explained by the puppy like commentators. Clare actually asked them to explain the jargon yesterday - after the event had finished. It’s jargon that’s the biggest problem in a sport we rarely see. Most of us simply don’t get it without an explanation.

I find exactly the same with rugby union. There’s a new language that’s been invented around it and us occasional viewers really struggle with the rules and why play is stopped, yet again. There’s an over supply of whoaaaaa and cheering but actual commentary and explanation is in short supply. Clare B isn’t the problem. It’s men broadcasting to people like them and not the wider population.

I like her in the advert for Revitive when they are 12 steps from the car 😄

I think she’s an excellent presenter. She turns up, is prepared and has clearly done her research.

As for those wondering what goofy is, it’s for boarders whose left leg goes first. If you want to find out if you are goofy, stand with both legs parallel and get someone to gently forward. Do it three times and if your left leg goes forward first the most then you are goofy.

I actually think she’s a national treasure. And I love her and her wife on gogglebox.

I can’t think of any other female sports presenters that I like. Apart from lovely Annabelle Croft.

This only makes me like her more

I understand that but she often has zero knowledge of the sport in question.

Its fine to have a single anchor man or woman for something like the Olympics but when its a single sporting championship, of which she knows nothing, its embarrassing.
The questions she asks are sometimes ludicrous or they are so general as to be pointless.
There are female and male presenters out there for most individual championships.

No she didn't. She worked in sports news broadcasting on the radio before she moved into TV.

Ahh I love that she still has lady di hair from 1983

Gah yeah Claudia overdose too

Was the episode Manchester-based? I completely agree with you.

Its always the same with the BBC, they get a 'pet' female presenter and then over-expose them. Nadiya Hussain, Claudia Winkleman, Claire Balding, the list goes on... I think, had she not been so tragically murdered, Jill Dando would have ended up presenting EVERYTHING

I like Clare, she clearly does her homework. However I LOVE Hazel, she’s much cooler and less labrador-like. Chemmy is a pet but her over-emotional fangirling over Lindsay Vonn and others gets a bit much. On the snow Ed Leigh totally creeps me out. A 50 something bloke crushing over very young female snowboarders gives a massive ick factor. He’s just as bad on Ski Sunday.

That’s exactly it - if you use the same person
for everything you get the same flavour

I just wish they’d mix it up a bit

It's hard to think of someone else when no one gets a look in! She is doing everything though. Like Mr Tumble or Justin in everything on cbbs

Was she really a professional jockey?

It was a joke comment btw!

We could definitely do without her at Wimbledon

Old school with fringes!

Balding has been presenting the winter olympics since 2002. She has presented the Olympics since 2004. She also presented the commonwealth games since 2006. She has presented the Paralympics, the America’s cup, women’s football and WTA competitions. She has fully proven her credentials to present in sport, regardless of the fact she hasn’t ever played them. Just like Andrew Cotter can do the same for many sports. Just like when Sue Barker commentated on the Olympics. Just like Des Lynam commentating on football, boxing, tennis, the Olympics, the grand national etc etc.

They are commentators, not pundits. They sit side by side with ex players who bring the professional knowledge.

Its fine not to like her and complain she is everywhere all at once (then also complain about her salary) but to suggest she doesn’t have the credentials for presenting a multitude of different sports is just wrong.

@Applecharlotte2 It’s been annoying to say the least. They are just broadcasting to a narrow group who understand what they are on about. When we don’t see events on tv very often, we need a bit more of an explanation.

As for fringes being horsey? Ludicrous! These are top class equestrian ladies - no fringe in sight.