BBC Sports presenter Clare Balding and her wife, broadcaster Alice Arnold, have moved from London to Esher in Surrey after 20 years in the capital. The couple, who met in 1999 while working at the BBC and married in 2015, have left their £3 million home in Chiswick for a property about 20 miles away.
A family acquaintance told the Mail that their 'priorities had shifted', adding: 'London has been wonderful for them. But priorities shift. You start wanting gardens instead of traffic, birdsong instead of sirens.'
Balding, 55, who grew up in the countryside, previously told The Times they wanted 'a bit more space and protection from the road so it's a good environment for a dog'. She had initially found London 'suffocating' but stayed for two decades.
Speaking about her relationship with Arnold, 63, Balding said they share the same work ethic and enjoy relaxing together. 'Alice and I just have the most lovely time together, we have so much fun,' she told the Mail, adding that Arnold is 'very honest' and will say if she could have done something better.
Balding also revealed she turned down an appearance on Strictly Come Dancing because Arnold threatened to leave her if she ever wore sequins on TV. 'When the request came through she said: 'You can say yes to that if you like, but I won't be here when you come back,'' Balding recalled.
