Natalie Pinkham is set to return to her presenting role with Sky Sports' Formula 1 coverage this weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, after a five-month absence due to major neck surgery. The 48-year-old had been warned of potential permanent nerve damage from a disc pressing on her spinal cord, forcing her to step back from her duties.
In an Instagram post, Pinkham confirmed her return: 'Hi friends. So, it has been a long, and if I'm completely honest, quite difficult five months of rehab since my neck surgery. But I'm really happy to say that I have been given the all clear to do long hauls again. My first [race] that I will be presenting for Sky F1 this year is Japan.'
Pinkham, a fan favourite, has been a face of Sky's F1 coverage for 14 years, working alongside Simon Lazenby, Martin Brundle, and Bernie Collins. Away from the track, she is married to businessman Owain Walbyoff, with whom she has two children: son Wilf, born in 2015, and daughter Willow, born in 2016. Australian former F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo is godfather to Wilf.
Pinkham's older brother, Sam Pinkham, is a TV and radio presenter known for hosting Virgin Radio's early morning show and Channel 5's 'Holiday Homes In The Sun'. She also has royal connections, often seen with Zara Tindall, the King's niece, at events such as the Cheltenham Festival. Pinkham has described Zara as 'the most hands-on mother I know'.
Pinkham was close friends with late TV presenter Caroline Flack, who died by suicide in 2020. She lives by the mantra 'What would Flacky do?' and, alongside Dawn O'Porter, founded the Flackstock music festival in Flack's memory to raise funds for mental health charities. Pinkham told the Mirror: 'A lot of people who didn't know her... can't therefore understand why she ended up taking her own life, and I think that’s something that will probably confuse and pain us for the rest of our days.'
