Boat Races both live on BBC, as women’s race takes equal billing as men’s on the Tideway for the first time

Clare Balding presents the BBC’s coverage of The Boat Races, which are among the oldest sporting events in the world - the men first raced in 1829 and the women in 1927. In the men’s Boat Race, Oxford are heavily fancied, having won the last two Races and five out of the last seven. Their women’s crew are even bigger favourites, having lost just once to their Cambridge rivals since 2007.

Joining Clare on the banks of the Thames to take viewers through all the day’s action are double Olympic medallists Anna Watkins, Tom James and Andrew Triggs-Hodge, and former Oxford men’s cox now GB women’s cox Zoe de Toledo. Jason Mohammad joins the presentation team, with Helen Skelton reporting from out on the course.

Jonathan Legard leads the commentary of both Races, along with four-time Olympic gold medallist Matthew Pinsent from on the water. Joining them first for The Women’s Boat Race will be Annie Vernon and Zoe de Toledo and then Wayne Pommen and Andrew Triggs-Hodge for The Boat Race.

As well as live coverage of the Races, the programming on BBC One will see Clare guide viewers through the history of The Women’s Boat Race. She will be tracing the journey from when women were not allowed to row competitively to now, looking at the obstacles women have experienced in the search for equal opportunity and looking at other sports where strides towards equality have been taken.

The BBC has been filming with all four crews since September, following their journey through trials, training, the crew announcements and up to Race day, charting the highs and lows during that seven-month journey to the start line. Viewers will be treated to an intimate and vivid account of the commitment and dedication required to secure a seat in the most famous rowing race in the world, and Matthew Syed takes an in depth look at the ‘Psychology of Selection’, examining the often fierce selection process where friends and team-mates compete directly against each other.

There will also be a tribute to the late Daniel Topolski, the highly respected rower, coach, BBC commentator and one of the most influential and significant figures to be involved in The Boat Race.

Barbara Slater, BBC Director of Sport, says: “This is another landmark moment for the development of women’s sport in this country. The BBC has a long history of covering The Boat Race and it is great to have the opportunity to put The Women’s Boat Race on an equal footing. Live coverage on BBC One this Saturday, on radio and online will ensure the widest possible exposure with millions watching the action unfold. Our commitment to broadcasting both Boat Races is long term, with a contract through to 2021.”

Clare Balding says: "There aren't that many days that you know will go down in the history books before they even start but April 11th will be one and I did not want to miss the first Women's Boat Race to be rowed on equal terms. I am proud and excited to be presenting The Boat Races with an 's' for BBC One and know that all four crews will try their hearts out over the gruelling course. Their task is beyond tough and I wish them all well."

The 2014 Boat Race saw a peak audience of 7.7 million viewers on BBC One with many more millions watching across the globe. The BBC has a contract to broadcast the Boat Races from 2015 until 2021.

Notes to Editors

Broadcast information:
Saturday 11 April
BBC One and BBC One HD, 4.15pm to 6.35pm
Both races will be live on the BBC Sport website with commentary streamed live on 5 live sports extra.

GS

Related BBC Links

• The Boat Race
• BBC One