Clare Balding, the BBC Wimbledon presenter, has revealed the emotional struggle she and her wife Alice Arnold face in deciding when to get a new dog following the death of their beloved Tibetan terrier Archie in 2020. The couple have been searching for a new pet, but Balding insists the decision cannot be rushed.
Moving to Surrey for a Dog-Friendly Home
After 20 years in Chiswick, south-west London, Balding and Arnold relocated to Esher in Surrey. Balding told The Times last year that a key reason for the move was 'to have a bit more space and protection from the road so it's a good environment for a dog.'
Speaking on the Alright, Pet? podcast at the Good Woof festival, the 54-year-old broadcaster explained in 2024: 'Here's the thing about responsible dog ownership, I'm going to be away all this summer doing the Olympics and Paralympics, this is not the time to bring a dog into my life, our life.'
'And, we are also doing a big sort of house building project, so that we can move somewhere where we've got a bit more space, we're not close to a road, and we can have doors open all the time,' she added.
The Emotional Toll of Waiting
'It's killing me not to have a dog right now, but I know it's the right thing to wait,' Balding admitted. During an episode of her Channel 5 programme Lost Dog, Found Dog, she consulted a pet loss specialist who advised on steps after a pet's death. When asked whether a grieving owner should acquire a new pet quickly, she said: 'It's different for everyone, but the most important thing is, it's what's best for the animal you do get.'
'If you're in a unit that's made up of more than one person, you involve everybody in that decision because it's so so important. And what we often hear is that people try and replace [the dog] with the same breed, the same name, please don't because every dog is unique and has its own character.' She also stressed the importance of being psychologically ready to care for a new dog after such a loss.
Balding's Busy Summer Schedule
For now, Balding is kept busy presenting live BBC coverage from Wimbledon. Alongside Isa Guha, she fronts the daily Wimbledon coverage on BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC iPlayer. In September, she will embark on a tour to promote her latest book.
Speaking to The One Show about the 2026 coverage, Balding said: 'It's about telling stories around it, and it's making you care about characters. So whether it's because your mum might fancy Rafa Nadal. And now Carlos Alcaraz, who is sadly not going to be at Wimbledon this year because he's injured.'
'For whatever reason you get hooked on certain players and you want them to do well and you feel what they feel. And I think that's what brings sport alive. And I think on the BBC, I hope we've always been good at it but we always try to make you see behind the scenes and make you understand more what they've been through to get where they're going. And also what it's like when they achieve what they want to.'
The BBC's Wimbledon coverage began on Monday, June 29, from 10.30am on BBC One.
