BBC presenter Clare Balding has disclosed what she considers the 'worst' thing that has ever happened to her while live on air, admitting that 'things always go wrong' in live television. The 55-year-old broadcaster, currently presenting at Wimbledon, shared her experience in an interview with The Telegraph.
The Longest Fill at Badminton Horse Trials
Balding recalled a particularly challenging moment at the Badminton Horse Trials when a hold-up on the cross-country course forced her to fill airtime indefinitely. She said: 'The editor said in my ear-piece 'I don't know how long we're going to want you to fill for.' I said 'What do you want me to say?' To which he said 'No idea but we're about to find out. Cue Clare.'' She emphasized that such situations are where broadcasters earn their money.
Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis and Recovery
In the same interview, Balding opened up about her worst health scare. In December 2008, she discovered a large lump on her throat. Tests revealed thyroid cancer. She underwent three operations and a round of radioactive iodine therapy, which successfully removed the cancer. 'I was lucky,' she said. 'The upside was that it made me more determined than ever to grab every opportunity with both hands, to live life to the full.'
Funeral Music and Bonding with Her Father
Balding also reflected on her relationship with her late father, racehorse trainer Ian Balding, and the music she wants at her funeral. She said: 'I loved sport from a very early age. And I think I realised it was a way of having a conversation with my father. If the cricket was on, you know, he would be watching all five days of a test match. So I needed to know about cricket. Obviously, I needed to know about horses.' She added that she has always wanted the Black Beauty theme music at her funeral, saying: 'I can sort of imagine galloping off the planet, off the earth, to that music.'
