Clare Balding

Clare was president of the Union Society and competed as an amateur flat jockey during her time at Cambridge, and has thankfully largely avoided politics in favour of sports broadcasting since graduating.  While she felt forced to remain in the closet in the early part of her career, Clare came out publicly in 2003, and withstood homophobic jibes from the likes of AA Gill to go on to become one of the nation’s best loved TV presenters. When they need to roll out the big guns for the Olympics, Paralympics, Commonwealth Games, even the Boat Race, they turn to Clare. (The photo shows Clare with 2013/2014 CUBC President Steve Dudek.) 

 

Commenting on her inclusion in the Q100, Clare said:

​

“I'm really proud to be a part of this exhibition.  There was a time when every one of this Q100 list would have been shunned and vilified for being different.  Now, we can celebrate that originality of character because with it comes a game-changing mind that doesn't just follow the crowd in a game of 'samethink' but is brave enough to come up with new concepts, fresh ideas and creative answers. Changing the narrative helps transform shame into pride, exclusion into exclusivity and it makes everyone want to be a part of this very special gang.”