Jamie Laing was on presenting duties for Channel 4 alongside the esteemed Clare Balding for this year’s Boat Race, but he was forced to apologise for a slip-up when announcing the winners and losers
Presenter Jamie Laing was left red-faced after wrongly announcing that winners Cambridge had LOST the 2026 men’s Boat Race. Cambridge made it four wins in a row on Saturday, as the Light Blues pulled clear to win by 11.02 seconds.
But Laing, who was hosting Channel 4’s coverage alongside Clare Balding, got confused by a ‘typo’ when announcing this year’s winners and losers. “Commiserations go to the losing crew, Cambridge University Boat Club,” Laing said before hearing rumblings from the crowd.
“Sorry, my mistake,” the Made in Chelsea star continued. “That’s a typo. Commiserations go to the losing crew, Oxford University Boat Club.”
Laing didn’t take himself too seriously, though. “It’s like the Oscars all over again,” the 37-year-old joked, referencing the infamous 2017 Academy Awards mix-up when the wrong winner of Best Picture was announced.
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READ MORE: Channel 4 forced to apologise after unexpected on-air cock-up during boat raceREAD MORE: Clare Balding forced to issue live TV apology immediately after Boat Race
“Now, let’s welcome the winners to the podium, Cambridge University Boat Club.”
The Light Blues celebrated their seventh victory in eight years when they got the podium. “That feels amazing,” Cambridge president Noam Mouelle, who was also part of the 2023, ’24 and ’25 crews, beamed.
“It was a super-hard race. Everyone was blowing by halfway but we did the job early and our job was to get the job done.”
Meanwhile, Oxford rower Harry Green told Channel 4 following their bitter defeat: “I am gutted to come away with the loss but proud of the way we held on in there. A lot of people thought we would roll over, but we gave it everything we had.”
Oxford did, however, enjoy success in the women’s race for the first time since 2016. The Dark Blues got off to a blistering start and ended up winning by 9.4 seconds.
Oxford women’s president and 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Heidi Long said: “I’m feeling quite overwhelmed. I am so happy. I am so proud. It was absolutely incredible.”
Rower Annie Anezakis, who finally tasted first victory on her fourth attempt, exclaimed after the win: “This is the best feeling in the whole world.”
Oxford women’s chief coach, Allan French, added: “I am so immensely proud of what they have done today. This is years in the making. They put their life and soul into it.”
