Crufts Host Clare Balding 'Devastated' Over Huge TV Error as She Admits 'I Lost My Nerve'
Channel 4 Crufts host Clare Balding has opened up about mistakes she has made during her presenting career, revealing that one particular blunder left her feeling absolutely devastated. As she returns to lead coverage at this year's Crufts event at Birmingham's NEC, Balding is hoping to avoid any on-air gaffes while reflecting on past mishaps.
The Celebrity Traitors Blunder That Shook Her Confidence
Looking back on her career recently, the presenter confessed she was particularly mortified by an error she made on the BBC programme Celebrity Traitors last year. During a challenge, Clare prematurely pulled a lever, resulting in her team losing thousands of pounds in potential prize money. Upon realizing her mistake, she immediately apologized but was later accused of being a Traitor and was banished from the show.
Reflecting on what she called the "lever-gate" furore, Balding said participating in the programme taught her three crucial life lessons. She stated: "I've learnt many things about myself and the one thing is I should probably read instructions or listen to them. The second is being fast doesn't always mean being right and the third is you can't fix everything all of the time and just don't always feel like you have to pull the lever," she continued with a laugh.
How the Mistake Affected Her On-Air Performance
In the wake of the backlash over her error, Clare confessed she "shrank" and "backed off" during the subsequent two missions for fear of making another mistake. Speaking to Good Housekeeping UK magazine, she added: "I felt dreadful and you could see me battering myself for it, not just in that, and I think it made me lose my nerve."
Discussing how she handles such errors on programmes, the presenter outlined her optimistic approach. "Going back to that point about making mistakes and forgiving yourself for making mistakes, it showed me all too clearly - and it's happened before, I've done things on air and have said things I wished I never said - you lose your nerve completely," she revealed.
"And how you regain it is actually what teaches you something about your own character," she continued. "You have to be honest and put your hands up and say, 'I've made a mistake, I'm really sorry' and mean it. With that [Celebrity Traitors error] as an example, [I said it] totally straight away and you could see it, I was devastated. And then you try and repair things slowly, I've probably tried too hard to repair things."
No More Reality Shows for Balding
Beyond the blunder, Clare said she enjoyed participating in the programme but has dismissed the possibility of featuring on any other reality shows. Strictly Come Dancing, specifically, is an absolute no for the broadcaster - after a caution from her wife, Alice Arnold.
Previously speaking about being invited onto the show, she told Alison Hammond's Smart TV podcast: "Alice has very strong feelings about this. 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'."
Coverage of Crufts kicks off today at 3pm on Channel 4, with Balding hoping to maintain her composure and avoid any further on-air mistakes as she guides viewers through the prestigious dog show.
