Channel 4 makes its debut broadcast of The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2026 on Saturday 4 April, as Oxford University Boat Club and Cambridge University Boat Club go oar-to-oar in one of the world’s oldest and most famous amateur sporting events.
Presenter and podcaster Jamie Laing is joining the previously announced Clare Balding and Ade Adepitan as Channel 4’s presentation team, broadcasting live from the banks of the River Thames with a new studio position at the start line in Putney.
Alex Jacques will be on lead commentary, with Olympic gold-medal winning rower Martin Cross and Olympic silver-medal winning rower Jess Eddie as co-commentators, while three-time Olympic gold medallist Pete Reed OBE is on pundit duty.
Broadcaster and mathematician Hannah Fry will also be on hand to discuss the science of rowing, as well as her support of Cambridge Men and Women in her role as Professor of Public Understanding of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge.
Coverage of The Boat Race will air from 13:30 to 16:30 on Channel 4 and Channel 4 Streaming on Saturday 4 April when Oxford and Cambridge Men and Women take on the iconic Championship Course, a 4.25-mile stretch of tidal Thames from Putney to Mortlake. Cambridge won both Women’s and Men’s races in 2025.
As well as broadcasting the historic races between the two universities, Channel 4 will also showcase the Youth Boat Race for the first time on British TV. The Youth Boat Race is supported by the Oxford and Cambridge Rowing Foundation and takes place on Friday 3 April, with coverage being a part of Saturday’s broadcast.
Jamie Laing comments: “The Boat Race is always such a brilliant day, it’s London’s party by the river. Joining Clare, Ade and the team to present coverage of such an iconic occasion is a pure thrill. I can’t wait to meet the incredible athletes taking part and get in amongst the action with the fans on the banks of the Thames and at the finish line to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of the crews.”
Channel 4’s coverage of The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2026 is produced by FilmNova and the executive producers are Lucy Cutler and Phil Sibson.
The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2026 on Channel 4, watch or stream on Saturday 4 April from 1:30pm
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