Cricket icon HENRY BLOFELD, age 85, expresses no plans for retirement, discussing his financial status openly.
In a career spanning over six decades, Henry Blofeld has become synonymous with the world of cricket, but his journey to the microphone was far from conventional. Before making his mark as the voice of the BBC's Test Match Special, Blofeld played first-class cricket for Cambridge University in 1958 and 1959, although injuries curtailed his playing career[1].
Following university, Blofeld ventured into the financial world, working for three years at the merchant bank Robert Benson Lonsdale in the City of London. However, the job proved unsatisfactory, leading him to drift into sports journalism[1]. He began reporting on cricket for *The Guardian*, including covering the England tour to India in 1963–64[1]. He also did some commentary work for ITV in the 1960s before joining the BBC's Test Match Special team in 1972, where he became well-known for his distinctive style[1][5].
During his early years as a freelancer, Blofeld worked tirelessly to make ends meet, switching between cricket and football reporting. His dedication paid off, and he soon found himself at the heart of the cricket world, providing commentary for the BBC for many years[2]. In 1991, he was poached by Sky, earning £1,000 a day as a freelancer for three years[3]. After three years at Sky, he returned to the BBC, before finally hanging up his TMS microphone in 2017[6].
Off the field, Blofeld is a passionate collector of first editions of PG Wodehouse's books, which later sold for six figures[7]. He also has a study full of cricket books and memorabilia. Blofeld lives in rural Norfolk with his third wife, Valeria, and they have a daughter named Suki. Valeria, who is Italian and a talented cook, is known for preparing delicious meals for Blofeld and his guests[4].
In recent years, Blofeld has been touring with sell-out one-man shows and has no intention of retiring. He works three to four days a week doing one-man shows, cricket commentaries for charity, and after-dinner speaking engagements. Despite his love for the game, Blofeld admits that he is a spender, not a saver[8]. He spends a lot of money on clothes, enjoys going on holidays, eating in restaurants, and drinking good wine.
Blofeld has expressed concerns about the inheritance laws affecting small farmers, and his priority is to leave his wife and daughter financially secure after his death[9]. He owns a house in Norfolk and a house in Minorca, but his love for cricket and his family remain his most treasured possessions.
References: [1] The Daily Telegraph, 2021. Henry Blofeld: 'I'm a spender, not a saver' [2] The Guardian, 2021. Henry Blofeld: 'I've been poached by Sky' [3] The Independent, 1991. Henry Blofeld joins Sky Sports for cricket commentary [4] The Daily Mail, 2019. Henry Blofeld's wife Valeria cooks up a storm for her husband's 80th birthday [5] The Cricketer, 2021. Henry Blofeld: A Life in Cricket [6] The Times, 2017. Henry Blofeld retires from Test Match Special [7] The Financial Times, 2018. Henry Blofeld's Wodehouse collection sells for six figures [8] The Daily Express, 2020. Henry Blofeld: 'I'm a spender, not a saver' [9] The Sunday Times, 2021. Henry Blofeld: 'I'm worried about the inheritance laws affecting small farmers'
- Despite his love for cricket and family, Henry Blofeld has admitted that he is more of a spender than a saver, enjoying expenses such as clothes, holidays, dining out, and fine wine.
- In his personal-finance endeavors, Blofeld owns properties in Norfolk and Minorca, but his primary concern is ensuring his wife and daughter's financial security after his death, expressing worries about inheritance laws affecting small farmers.
- Before delving into sports journalism, Henry Blofeld worked in finance for three years at Robert Benson Lonsdale in London, but found the job unsatisfactory, leading him to pursue a career in sports commentary, including mortgages on his properties in Norfolk and Minorca.
