Georgie Thompson, the former face of Sky Sports News for over a decade, has ventured into a very different life away from the TV studio. With her presenting style and bubbly personality, she garnered a host of fans during her time on the channel and even earned the title of one of the world’s sexiest women. Following her stint at Sky starting in 2001, where she covered numerous sporting events and broke significant stories, Thompson left her role in 2011 and departed from the broadcaster a couple of years later. Since then, at the age of 47, she has transitioned into a new chapter with a famous husband, two children, a new name, and exciting projects outside the realm of television.
Despite claiming that she would never date a sportsman during her time at Sky Sports, Thompson’s love life took an unexpected turn when she met legendary Olympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie at a corporate event in 2011. After what she described as a “thunderbolt moment,” the couple eventually started dating following a period where they were in “different places.” Their relationship blossomed, leading to their marriage in December 2014 at Hampton Court Palace. With Ainslie being knighted in 2013, Thompson formally became Lady Ainslie. The couple shares two children, daughter Bellatrix born in 2016 through IVF, and son Fox born in 2021 via surrogacy after enduring multiple rounds of IVF and three miscarriages.
Thompson’s journey into motherhood was not without its challenges, as she candidly shared their struggles with fertility treatments and surrogacy. Despite the difficulties they faced, their experience ultimately strengthened their bond as a family. Thompson highlighted the importance of being open about their journey to help dispel any stigma surrounding surrogacy. Her transparency and resilience have been integral in shaping their family narrative, ensuring their children understand the hurdles they overcame to build their family.
Before her relationship with Ainslie, Thompson had a high-profile romance with Declan Donnelly of the famous presenting duo Ant and Dec. The former couple dated for three years, with Thompson expressing her desire for marriage and children during their time together. However, their relationship came to an end when Donnelly decided he was not ready to settle down, leaving Thompson blindsided and heartbroken. Despite the public nature of their split, Thompson handled the breakup with grace, acknowledging the challenges of navigating personal struggles in the limelight.
Following her departure from Sky Sports News in 2011, Thompson continued her career as a presenter on Sky Sports F1 before transitioning to become a panellist on Regis Philbin’s Fox Sports talk show Crowd Goes Wild in the United States. Upon her return to the UK, she joined BBC Radio 5 Live to co-present the Saturday Morning comedy show Fighting Talk. In collaboration with her husband, Thompson launched a performance supplement business, ainslie + ainslie, and co-hosts The ainslie + ainslie Performance People Podcast, featuring a lineup of renowned guests from the sports and entertainment industries.
Throughout her remarkable journey, Georgie Thompson has gracefully navigated the highs and lows of life in the public eye. From her prolific career at Sky Sports to her transformative personal life with Sir Ben Ainslie and their children, Thompson’s resilience and openness have made her a beacon of strength and inspiration. As she continues to embrace new ventures alongside her husband and champion important causes, Thompson’s story serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, love, and family.