Clare Balding has hinted at an "exciting" new venture that appears set to take her in an entirely new direction. The move could represent a significant shift for the 55-year-old, who is primarily recognised as a sports broadcaster, having fronted major events such as the Olympics, Crufts, Wimbledon, the Boat Race and the Paralympics.
This would not be her first foray outside of sport: she also featured in the 2025 edition of the Claudia Winkleman-helmed reality series Celebrity Traitors, alongside Alan Carr, Celia Imrie and Jonathan Ross.
New "business" challenge
During a recent interview, Balding addressed the prospect of a new "challenge" while discussing a fresh "business" endeavour. She told the Telegraph Magazine: "Interesting you should say that. I have never run a business. I've never been involved with developing a product. That is all going to change."
She is remaining tight-lipped about the project for now, though she has revealed it's "to do with dogs and it's really exciting". The publication's Jack Rear also disclosed that she had shared a "couple of other intriguing hints".
Details and Preston link
Balding divulged that the project had featured "ingredients", but it's "not a dog food". It was also revealed that she had been working on the product in Preston, Lancashire.
Last month, it emerged that Balding would not be presenting the 2026 Commonwealth Games - the first time in 20 years she has not fronted the coverage, following the BBC's loss of rights to the event.
Commonwealth Games exit
It comes as the BBC seeks to reduce its live sports coverage; the broadcaster reportedly did not successfully bid to retain its rights, and TNT Sports will now take over the live TV and digital media.
Balding first hosted the coverage in Melbourne in 2006 and went on to front four more Games. She has also worked as the BBC's lead TV host for the Olympics since 2004.
Health scare
In other news, Balding recently explained how she first spotted a serious illness after seeing herself on screen and noting a change to part of her body. She was presenting the Olympia International Horse Show at the time.
She told the Stick To Rugby podcast: "It was an odd one because I hadn't really noticed feeling any different and I was (presenting) show jumping at Christmas when it was at Olympia and I recorded an opening link."
"And I was watching it back on the monitor as I was about to go live, and I'm looking at the monitor and you know that if you don't really look at yourself in the mirror, you don't really notice anything?"
"I was looking at the monitor and I saw this big lump on my neck, like a big lump and I thought that's really weird. And I felt it and I was like 'where has that come from?'"
