Claudia Winkleman has an intriguing life off camera (Picture: Cody Burridge/BBC/PA Wire)
Claudia Winkleman has always been a one-of-a-kind delight to watch, best known for her presenting role on Strictly Come Dancing.
Her status as a true icon of British TV was further cemented when she took on the role of hosting the UK version of The Traitors on the BBC.
Fans of the show lap up her outfits, from her cosy knitwear to her chic red gloves, while she amps up the drama brewing between the Faithfuls and the Traitors.
However, her own life is just as fascinating as the goings-on of the Traitors castle, including the fact that she’s technically related to royalty through one of her relatives.
Here’s what you need to know about her royal links, her husband and her children.
Who is Claudia Winkleman’s husband and do they have children?
Claudia has been married since 2000, when she wed film producer Kris Thykier.
Kris and Claudia have been married for more than two decades (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
The couple have three children together: Jake, 20, Matilda, 17, and Arthur, 12.
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Claudia previously opened up about what made her fall for her husband, explaining that she became enamoured by the way that he treated other people.
‘What did it for me was how he behaved in restaurants, bars and planes – indeed, simply around people. “Thanks so much”, “No rush”, “I’ll carry it over for you”, “Here, have a drink on us”,’ she told OK! Magazine, the Mirror reported.
Claudia tends to keep her private life out of the spotlight (Picture: PA)
‘Having been a waitress every school holiday from the age of 16, it was just that magic characteristic that tipped me over.’
Claudia added to Red magazine that the couple didn’t ‘have rules’ in terms of who did what in their relationship, but they ‘look after each other more’.
‘So, whoever comes home first normally makes the dinner. It’s just about being nice to each other,’ she said.
Claudia keeps her children and family life largely out of the spotlight, but hit headlines in October 2014 when her then-eight-year-old daughter was taken to hospital, after being seriously injured when her Halloween costume caught fire.
The presenter later spoke about the incident, revealing her daughter’s costume had brushed against a candle inside a pumpkin.
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In a recent interview with Gabby Logan on her The Mid-Point podcast, Claudia spoke about her children coming home from university and the family reuniting for Christmas, sharing an insight into their home life.
She said: ‘My favourite noise of everything is them laughing when it has nothing to do with me. When I’m in a different room and I can hear them howling, they make each other laugh, then I’m like, that’s the best sound in the entire world.
‘I love laughing with them as well. But when they’re in an ecosystem and it doesn’t matter whether I’m there or not, it’s my favourite.’
Who is Claudia Winkleman’s sister Sophie?
Through Claudia’s sister Sophie Winkleman, the Strictly presenter is technically related to royalty.
Claudia’s sister Sophie married into royalty (Picture: John Stillwell/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Actress Sophie, also known as Lady Frederick Windsor, might be recognised best for playing Big Suze in Peep Show.
Sophie is Claudia’s half-sister through their father Barry Winkleman, who married children’s author Cindy Black after the Strictly presenter’s parents divorced when she was a child.
People were astonished when they spotted ‘Big Suze’ at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral in September 2022, with some not realising her connection to the Royal Family.
Sophie played ‘Big Suze’ in Peep Show (Picture: Channel 4)
Having appeared in films and TV shows including Death in Paradise, Lewis, Agatha Christie’s Poirot and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, in 2009, she married Lord Frederick Windsor.
Lord Frederick is the son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, is 53rd in the line of succession to the British throne, and is a second cousin of King Charles III.
Sophie has continued to act following her wedding, most recently appearing in Timothée Chalamet’s Wonka as the Countess.
What is Claudia Winkleman’s net worth?
According to celebritynetworth.com, Claudia is reportedly worth £9,000,000.
She’s reportedly worth £9,000,000 (Picture: BBC / Studio Lambert)
That includes for her work as a former BBC Radio 2 presenter, and several TV presenting gigs.
The star has been nominated three times for a Bafta TV award for best entertainment performance for co-presenting Strictly, and received her fourth Bafta nomination – and first win – for The Traitors.
She is also the host of Channel 4 competition The Piano, and has appeared on the likes of Taskmaster and Hell’s Kitchen.
The Traitors airs Wednesdays, Thursday and Fridays at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
This article was first published on January 17, 2024.
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