How Clare made her mum cry

WHILE she never wanted to be a mother, ubiquitous TV presenter Clare Balding enjoyed writing her novel for youngsters.

‘If you have children, you have to look after them,’ she says. ‘But by writing books, I get to entertain them, which is much better. Not having kids means I have a lot more time in my life.’

Clare, 45, who is married to broadcaster Alice Arnold, has written The Racehorse Who Wouldn’t Gallop, about a ten-year-old girl, Charlie, who dreams of owning a pony. ‘I’ve always wanted a heroine with big thighs — I’m very aware of the body image issues young girls face, so I wanted to include a positive message,’ says Clare.

‘When my mother read it, she cried. She was teased at school in the same way Charlie is.’