Henry Blofeld hung up his cricket commentator headphones a few years ago, but where is he now? Who is he married to? And has he actually retired? Thrillz has the story.
Cricket Commentator Henry Blofeld, or as you may know him, Blowers, is a former Test Match Special commentator legend best known for his plummy, aristocratic accent, schoolboy humour and occasional over-the-top observations of the scene during commentary. Not to mention his extravagantly bright coloured attire and reference to everyone as “my dear old thing”.
A TMS Legend
Henry first found his love for cricket at Eton College where he excelled in the sport, he then went on to play for Cambridge University in 16 First-Class matches.
After moving away from playing, he embarked on a career as a sports journalist, where he wrote for the Guardian before finally joining Test Match Special on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra in 1972. Although Henry Blofeld had previously commentated for ITV during the 1960s, it was on TMS that he became a broadcasting legend and fans of the sport fell in love with him.
Retirement?
His last test commentary was England vs West Indies at Lord’s on 9th September 2017, where he was given a standing ovation on a lap of the ground following the end of the match.
Henry Blofeld exclusively told Thrillz: “I was with Test Match Special for 47 years, it was terrific, wonderful, such unbelievable fun! I miss it very much indeed but one has got to move on, and the great thing is I’ve moved on to Thrillz which is almost as much fun!”
Henry has since hung up his commentary headphones but he has no plans of slowing life down to retire with his wife Valeria.
He told Thrillz: “I still work seven days a week, as hard as I’ve ever done, and I would never retire ever. Retirement is not a word I know!”
Who is Henry Blofeld’s wife?
Henry Blofeld has been married three times and divorced twice, he has a daughter called Suki from his first marriage. He then separated from his Swedish second wife, Bitten, in 2007. He married Valeria Chianale, an Italian woman, in 2013 who he describes as “the bravest woman in the world for taking me on”.
He told Thrillz: “I’m a serious risk, but then so is she because we’ve both been married three times!”
Henry’s tip for a successful marriage
Henry and Valeria don’t let the fact that both of them have been married previously affect them. Henry has shared with Thrillz his one tip for how he and Valeria are able to have a successful and happy marriage.
He said: “The importance of any successful marriage is a sense of humour, Valeria and I have a huge sense of humour and if we look like having a row we laugh!”