Just when you think she could not get any better she is on the front page of the Guardian at the weekend with quite a hot girlfriend/ wife then on Breakfast this morning as they are discussing the SPOTY she mentions all the great sportsmen who are not in it and mentions
Kevin Sinfield of Rugby League.
Always gives the game a plug ( as did her girlfriend who talked about how Clare takes her to RL matches)

I wish sky would get her to work for them instead of some of the rubbish they have

Is this the same Clare Balding who once commented that Hull FC were called the "Early Birds" because they always started a game well ?????

She should have been on the panel deciding the shortlist. Too many faceless BBC bosses and all the athletes were ex-Olympians! I don't think anyone on the list doesn't deserve to be there though.

it's the hardest year by far top choose a winner in my opinion. Mo Farrah for me, i was screaming at the TV watching him win both his medals. Bradley Wiggins in with a big shout for winning the TdF and gold at the Olympics

Yes, the very same one. Thats whats known as a 'pun' in the industry...

Mo Farah should win it for blitzing "The Cube" on ITV, ney mind the two gold medals lol.

Sadly no more Clare Balding on BBC Rugby League coverage with her joining Channel 4 Racing, and thus being busy most Saturday's, next year.

I thought Clare's partner was the Radio 4 announcer Alice Arnold.

she is

That was amazing. I know it wasn't his money but still.

Clare B is a class above the rest and has been for years, people took pot shots at her for her looks, how 'big' she was as well as her sexuality (and prolly still do), however she has dealt with it in a massively professional manner and is the hot thing of sports presenting.

As an aside, it's got to be Wiggo for SPOTY, he's far more personality and interesting than Mo could ever be. Not only that but he's raised the awareness of cycling massively across the nation thus helping to empower cyclists for generations to come. gets my vote.

Since when has SPOTY ever been about personality?

For personality, yes Wiggins, Nicola Adams maybe. For sheer achievement?

Too hard to call.

Perhaps with Clare on board we might persuade Channel 4 to show some league.

Theyre taking a much keener interest in sport than in a long time.

Mo or Wiggins for me

They had the hardest tasks, the compertition in their sports was the best of the best.

Both were first Brits ever to do what they did

All the people on the shortlist deserve to be on it but in some instances

Jess Ennis for example she was the favourate and it was more hers to lose, still great achivement though

I think what also needs to be taken into account for Wiggins is his change from track to road cycling - it would almost be like asking Usain Bolt to switch from 100m to the marathon! Good to see paralympians nominated, about time!

Alistair Brownlee finished his 10k run 90-odd seconds slower than Mo Farah, and that was after cycling and swimming. Somewhat harder task!

I think Alistair is very unlucky to be overlooked. He's dominated his sport more so than most of the others on the list.

Bradley Wiggins, no contest.
The firs Brit to win TdF and doubled up with Olympic gold.
The TdF is the hardest endurance event in world sport and on top of his acheivement he's a top bloke AND interseted in RL,
That's a tick in every box possible - Vote Bradley Wiggins

to say its "no contest" is going a bit far lol. Obviously would be a worthy winner but so would about 10 others

Ever since Nigel Mansell won it

VOTE WIGGINS!

A few weeks back she was hosting Have I Got News For You (I think it was the week after the Grand Final) and she made a reference to Paul Woods unfortunate injury and commented that RL players were real sportsmen much to the bemusement of Ian Hislop who clearly hadn't the foggiest what she was talking about.

Never thought I'd see RL get a mention on HIFGNY. She never misses an opportunity to paint the game in a positive light and she is by far the best media outlet the game has.

"Warrington Wildcats prop forward Paul Wood" gets a mention in the latest issue of FHM's sports roundup of the last year.

Ah well, it's the thought that counts (as we tend to say at this time of year).

Comedy hasn't hit Gateshead yet mate.