about being judged for her looks on new Saturday night TV show
By Daily Mail Reporter 28 December 2012
She was cited as a national treasure thanks to her fantastic coverage of the Olympics during London 2012 this summer.
But now Sports presenter Clare Balding fears she will be judged on her appearance, rather than her opinions as she 'glams up' to host a new Saturday night BBC1 show.
Balding, 41, who won accolades for the way she covered the Olympics and Paralympics, is set to present prime-time entertainment show Britain's Brightest.
She told the Radio Times: 'I'm putting myself into a different genre - I'm therefore saying to the public, "Can you accept me in a completely different format?" and that is risky.
'And obviously because it's Saturday night, I've got to glam up a bit. You know, there will be a few people who go, "Oh, I don't like what she's wearing".'
Balding was interviewed while filming the series, wearing six-inch heels. 'I'm not running in them, am I? Mainly, I'm just walking three steps and stopping,' she said.
When the interviewer said they were a 'dominatrix' style, she responded: 'Dominatrix! Don't you dare write that!'
National treasure: The TV presenter's work during the Olympics and Paralympics left her with a strong fan base
In demand: Clare has a number of new projects lined up
Balding will also be hosting Good Morning Sunday on Radio 2, replacing Aled Jones on the weekly faith programme.
Asked whether she had a faith, she said it was 'not significant' adding: 'I'm very interested in other people's faith and I think that's what matters.' Balding said that her new 'national treasure' label would not last, and she added: 'I think ambitious is one of those adjectives used for women in a derogatory way - and, yet, I think ambition is crucial in life - you have to know what you might be capable of and push yourself slightly beyond it.'
She told the magazine: 'You come across words all the time that are everyday sexism. I was described as competently bossy and bossily competent by a male journalist and I thought, "Gosh, bossy is never used of a man....A man would be called assertive or confident or quick or bright".... five years ago that would have really upset me - now I just think, "Hmm - probably his failing, not mine. Move on".'
Asked whether she would ever consider hosting a chat show, Balding, whose civil partner is Radio 4 newsreader Alice Arnold, said: 'I don't know whether a chat show isn't pushing it too far.'
She was cited as a national treasure thanks to her fantastic coverage of the Olympics during London 2012 this summer. Balding, 41, who won accolades for the way she covered the Olympics and Paralympics
Has anyone got any links that prove any of this?
She was cited as a national treasure thanks to her fantastic coverage of the Olympics during London 2012 this summer.Balding, 41, who won accolades for the way she covered the Olympics and ParalympicsHas anyone got any links that prove any of this?