Clare Balding will lead the BBC’s coverage of the upcoming Winter Olympics(Image: Getty)
The BBC has announced its commentary team for the Winter Olympics, which begins at the beginning of next month.
This edition marks the first time the Games have been held across two cities, with certain events taking place in Milan while others are distributed around clusters in Cortina and the Valtellina and Fiemme valleys in north-eastern Italy.
The opening ceremony is set for February 6, with the closing ceremony scheduled for February 22. Over 450 hours of live sporting action will be broadcast across BBC platforms throughout the Games.
There will be two streams of live daytime action from Italy, with BBC One and BBC Two airing coverage from 9am to 10pm. The other stream, Olympics Extra, will be on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app from 8am to 11pm each day.
Clare Balding will spearhead the broadcaster’s coverage of the Games alongside co-presenters Hazel Irvine and Jeanette Kwakye. They will be supported by a line-up of expert pundits, including two-time skeleton gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold and curling champion Vicky Wright.
Gladiators star Montell Douglas will also be involved, with the BBC stating she will contribute her “elite insight and energy to give viewers a fresh perspective.” Initially a sprint athlete, she competed for Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Douglas later took up bobsleigh and participated in the 2022 Winter Olympics, making her one of only two athletes to have featured in both Games held in Beijing, China.
Other pundits will include figure skating champion Robin Cousins and Olympic bronze medallists John Jackson and Jenny Jones. JJ Chalmers will provide live coverage of curling, bobsleigh and skeleton, while Chemmy Alcott and Ed Leigh are part of the commentary team.
The roster includes Steve Cram, Logan Gray, Jackie Lockhart, Graham Bell, Matt Chilton, Tim Warwood, Simon Brotherton, Wilf O’Reilly, Katherine Downes, Seth Bennett, Kent Simpson, John Hunt, Rob Walker and Andy Stevenson.
Content creator Max Balegde and media personality Chris Hughes will be responsible for documenting behind-the-scenes footage, gaining exclusive access to the athletes and their families to highlight the personal stories of the Games.
Working with influencer Charley Marlowe, the BBC has produced a collection of digital profile features for the iPlayer platform, offering viewers a glimpse into Team GB’s Winter Olympics preparations. The reporting team is rounded off by Sarah Mulkerrins and David McDaid.
Speaking about the line-up, BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski said: “The Winter Olympics spotlight the world’s most elite winter athletes as they push the boundaries of speed, precision and excellence across snow and ice, and BBC Sport can’t wait to bring audiences all the very best action and medal moments straight from Milan‑Cortina.
“Our expert line‑up of international winter sport stars, combined with our unmissable coverage, will ensure that the Italy 2026 Olympic Winter Games take pride of place in what promises to be an unforgettable year of sport.”
BBC Radio 5 Live will also broadcast live coverage of the Winter Olympics, with Katie Smith and Maz Farookhi providing updates from Italy along with interviews and reaction.
