BOAT RACE organisers hope new hosts and insight into athletes’ lives will make the Oxford-Cambridge clash more relatable as it moves to a new home on Channel 4 this weekend.

The five-year broadcast deal raised eyebrows when it was announced in October, with some suggesting that the parting of ways with historic hosts the BBC sent a worrying signal about the relevance of the 197-year-old British tradition.

Those in charge view the move differently, seeing an opportunity to draw in new audiences with a revamped broadcast, while still appealing to more conventional viewers.

Olympic bronze medallist and Oxford women’s president Heidi Long told PA: “It’s a big change, but so much in the world of media is changing. I don’t think it necessarily is a good thing or a bad thing, but I think it’s a change.

“One of the fun opportunities that we’ve had working with Channel 4 is unlocking [our personalities], and so much about sport is the athletes and the people taking part in it.”

Channel 4 have recruited TV personality Jamie Laing to join tomorrow’s broadcast alongside veteran presenter Clare Balding and Boat Race hosting newcomer Ade Adepitan.

“When it comes to the Boat Race, it can feel quite intriguing, quite enigmatic, something that’s far off from people,” said Adepitan.

“I think what Channel 4 want to do is open it up. If [Channel 4] can do what we’ve done with the Paralympics to the Boat Race, the sky’s the limit, literally.”

The relatability push does have its limitations, though, as many of the student-athletes’ stories are anything but ordinary.

Oxford men’s stroke Harry Geffen has represented Great Britain at under-23 level, including last year’s world championships, while Carys Earl in the Cambridge women’s four seat is balancing two training sessions a day with medical studies.

Earl, hoping to make it a personal hat-trick in the light blue boat, has delivered babies then joined her crew and has, on at least one occasion, ducked out of a surgical theatre at three o’clock in the morning to make training two hours later.

She said: “It’s hard work, it’s full on, and sleep is not something you get to do very often, but it’s incredible the opportunities that I’m given, and I want to make the very most of it.”