Hampshire People

Gill Grant speaks with Ed Chamberlin the King of Presenting Sport Ed Chamberlin

To talk with Ed Chamberlin is a delight for more than one reason. Ed has lived in Hampshire all his life and has endless enthusiasm for our county. “Although my parents were originally from the West Country we moved near to Andover and then to St. Mary Bourne. Later I went to Exeter University to study politics, from there I lived in London working on a placement at Ladbrokes, I attempted to start my own magazine but the financial crash of the late 80s - 90s put paid to that”

Ed had not planned for a career in television, “Journalism was absolutely where I wanted to be but I was picked up by Sky TV for football presenting, I worked on various shows with fellow presenters Kirsty Gallacher and Jeff Stelling but there again I was jinxed - every show I worked on didn’t seem to last long! “Everything changed in 2011 when I had the opportunity to host Sky Sports News. Then, in 2017 I moved to ITV to present horse racing. I still get asked now how I could leave the world of football for racing. But I’ve not lost my passion for football, St Marys remains one of my favourite places in Hampshire loved by my ten-year-old son too. My daughter and I are fans of T20 cricket at the Rose Bowl.”

Ed is equally passionate about The Sport of Kings, I wonder if he can recognise good horse when he sees one. “I have become more knowledgable about horses over the years, it’s a hobby, and I enjoy the odd flutter or too- without much success I have to add. Presenting racing requires a lot of concentration, you have to keep up with the whole race, I couldn’t be willing my horse to win - too much of a distraction.

“My role as a presenter as I see it is to make racing accessible to all, irrespective of age, expert or novice. So I ask the professionals the questions I think the viewers want to hear. Also, people watching also want to be entertained, that’s important too. Des Lynam is my hero - that dry humour, intelligence, and generosity to allow people to speak and get the best out of them.”

Is there a special racecourse for him? “To be honest they all have a special quality in their own right. Doncaster, Cheltenham Festival, Glorious Good Wood and I just love Royal Ascot. Aintree is the biggest attracting ten million viewers, when you consider the size of a game between Manchester and Liverpool would attract around three million viewers you can see how pressurised racing presenting can be, it’s a big responsibility. I still get nervous before an important meeting but I think that's a good thing, I’m never complacent.”

There was an underlying reason behind Ed’s move to ITV because in 2009 his life changed dramatically. “It was in Winchester hospital that I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I was immediately placed in the care of the phenomenal team at Southampton General and my Oncologist Ben Needham who told me that although the tumour was the size of a grapefruit he was confident I would be cured, that was on Wednesday and by Friday I had commenced my chemotherapy.

“I always felt in control of my treatment, I knew what was going on. By week six my blood markers were coming down - that’s the information you live to hear. The Southampton FC players give regular time visiting the children’s cancer ward, so I arranged to have

my head shaved for charity by Steve Cotterill it raised a few laughs, so there were some lighter moments!

“The treatment was hard on my family, my wife was expecting our second child at the time so it was very stressful for her, and the whole family. I then got to the point when they were able to remove the tumour, the op didn’t go quite to plan and I awoke in intensive care and remained there for two weeks. But I did get to watch the Champions League on TV, admittedly it took some persuading to allow me a TV in intensive care! I remember the absolute joy of being able to walk again on day eight.”

Of course, Ed’s illness and recovery had a profound effect on his life. “It’s given me something extra, a real determination- I don’t think I would have considered the job at ITV before, it was life-changing. It taught me never to feel sorry for myself.

“I can’t begin to express my thanks to the staff at Winchester and Southampton hospital they are some of the most fantastic and extraordinary people I have ever met. You become close to them and to fellow patients so it’s the hardest thing to see an empty bed where a patient used to be, especially in the children’s ward.”

In 2013 Ed became an Ambassador for the charity ‘Well Child’. “Having seen parents struggling to cope I’m proud to be an Ambassador for Well Child. We raise funds to support childhood

cancer patients and their families by providing nursing care at home. So far we have funded five full-time nurses. In May we are hosting a charity golf event at ‘The Belfry’, it would be fabulous if we could sponsor another two nurses.”

Now he is recovered, what next for Ed Chamberlin? “Ah well, I’d love to present the Olympics, and Southampton v Manchester United. But it’s the simple things in life too, I have old friends from the Sporting News, I love to show off Hampshire when they come to stay. I live in a beautiful village with the River Test and the Mayfly pub nearby. There’s nothing like a walk on Broughton Downs. Then there’s the Watercress Line and we can pop to Pizza Express afterward or my favourite Kyoto Kitchen in Winchester”

Ed Chamberlin continues to canter on with his happy and healthy life in Hampshire. Written By Gill Grant

For more information visit: www.wellchild.org.uk