Clare Balding, who is celebrating her 55th birthday today, recently explained her decision to decline an offer to appear on Strictly Come Dancing. The renowned sports broadcaster disclosed that she rejected the opportunity for two main reasons.

In discussing her choice, Clare humorously admitted that she lacks dancing skills, stating, “It’s not something anybody needs to see, it’s not.”

Additionally, she revealed that her wife, Alice Arnold, 62, strongly opposed her participation in the show. Clare shared during an interview with Alison Hammond on the Smart TV podcast last year that Alice had made it clear by saying, “You can say yes to that if you like, but I won’t be here when you come back.”

Alison Hammond, from This Morning, understood the seriousness of the situation, acknowledging that the show has a reputation for causing relationship issues, often referred to as the “Strictly curse.”

The term “curse” is commonly used to describe the romantic challenges that can arise between contestants or professionals while competing on the show or shortly thereafter.

Clare and Alice, who got married in 2015 after knowing each other for 16 years, have a strong bond that has stood the test of time.

Reflecting on their early acquaintance, Alice shared on the Rosebud podcast, “I didn’t think anything. We were both in other relationships. Then she came to dinner. I thought you were great at what you did, but a relationship with her was so not on the cards for me. I just knew I liked her and she was fun.”

Despite initial doubts, their relationship blossomed, and they have been happily together since. Recently, they appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox together, while Clare also took part in Celebrity Traitors last year.

Although she didn’t last long in the game and was eliminated early on, Clare was appreciative of the experience. Looking back, she mentioned that she wouldn’t participate in another reality show, emphasizing that she felt she had already tackled a significant challenge with the show.

Clare expressed her views on the impact of the program and noted that she found humor to be a powerful tool for addressing serious issues. She praised fellow contestant Alan Carr and highlighted the importance of humor as a shield for navigating challenges.

In conclusion, Clare’s experience on reality television has provided her with valuable insights and a deeper appreciation for the role of humor in addressing various situations.