Claudia Winkleman is embracing a new chapter in her life, stepping away from Strictly Come Dancing after more than a decade as co-presenter. For over ten years, she dedicated every Saturday evening from September through the festive season to the hugely popular BBC show.
Now, with Claudia’s departure at the end of this series, she can finally enjoy more quality time with her children. Her eldest daughter, Matilda Thykier, is especially thrilled by the prospect of having her mother around more often.
Unlike her mother, Matilda — Claudia’s 19-year-old daughter with husband Kris Thykier — is pursuing a path far from the entertainment spotlight. Currently a second-year chemistry student at Bath University, Matilda fully immerses herself in university life. She recently returned from a three-month study stint in Copenhagen, embracing new experiences beyond home.
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Claudia often praises Matilda’s intelligence and dedication. In an interview with Grazia magazine, Claudia shared, “She’s a very clever girl. She sends me some of the work she does, and I’m like, ‘What? How? Pardon?’”
However, Matilda’s journey hasn’t been without hardship. In 2014, when she was just eight years old, Matilda suffered severe burns after her Halloween witch costume caught fire. Claudia has described the terrifying incident as “life-changing.”
Recalling the frightful moment in a BBC Watchdog interview, Claudia recounted, “I was talking to somebody and then I just heard her scream. She screamed ‘Mummy’ and turned around — she was on fire. Everyone was screaming… It felt like she was on fire for hours, but it was probably just seconds.”
The flames proved especially stubborn. “We couldn’t put her out — the tights kept reigniting like those birthday candles that won’t stay out,” Claudia explained. Despite the trauma, Claudia emphasizes the incident was transformative but not defining: “It’s life-changing but not life-defining. It was definitely life-changing for me. I can’t remember life before it.”
Claudia is also a devoted mother to her two sons, Jake, 21, and Arthur, 13. Her desire to prioritize family time has become increasingly evident; last year she stepped down from her BBC Radio 2 show to be more present at home. “Time is going too fast. My daughter is ready to leave home, yet I still have a little one who wants to be with me — I don’t know how long that will last, so I just need to be at home more,” Claudia shared.
The news of Claudia and co-presenter Tess Daly’s departure from Strictly stunned fans. Together, they announced their decision in a heartfelt video: “There have been some rumblings and we want you to hear this from us,” Claudia began. Tess followed, “After 21 wonderfully joyful years on Strictly, we feel the time is right to step aside and pass the baton.”
“This show has been a huge part of our lives since our children were babies, and now they’re adults. We’ve cherished every second,” Tess said. Claudia added gratitude for the team behind the show: “We’re lucky to have been part of this amazing show; Strictly is the people who make it.”
Strictly Come Dancing continues to air on Saturday evenings at 6:55 pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, marking the end of an era with Claudia’s departure.