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United States Strictly host Claudia Winkleman's life from rarely seen famous husband to bizarre sex ban
Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia Winkleman is a fan favourite and staple figure on the BBC ballroom dancing show.
Claudia has been a hit on the show as she co-hosts alongside Tess Daly on the Saturday night live shows ever since the departure of Sir Bruce Forsyth since 2014.
Despite not joining the main show until 2014, she has been in the Strictly family since 2004 as she initially presented Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two on weeknights on BBC Two.
The presenter has been nominated twice for the British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance for her work on Strictly Come Dancing.
Read More Related ArticlesWinkleman is renowned for her iconic trademark look, which includes black hair with a characteristic fringe, she once said: "I don't think I'd have a career if I didn't have a fringe".
But how much do we know about the popular TV hosts life when the camera's stop rolling?
Read More Related Articles Who is Claudia Winkleman?
Winkleman was born in London to a Jewish family and has no full siblings. Her parents, who were both journalists, divorced when she was three, both remarrying four years later.
Her mum is a former editor of the Sunday Express, while her father was a successful book publisher.
Her mother, Eve Pollard, married Nicholas Lloyd, becoming Lady Lloyd in 1990. Winkleman's father later married children's author Cindy Black.
Raised in Hampstead, London, Winkleman was educated at the City of London School for Girls and New Hall, Cambridge, obtaining a Master of Arts in Art History.
Read More Related ArticlesHer colourful TV career kick-started when she began appearing frequently in the long-running BBC series Holiday, which continued throughout the mid-1990s.
She landed her first TV job in 2001, on regional discussion programme Central Weekend.
Claudia frequently in the long-running BBC series Holiday throughout the mid-1990s.
Read More Related ArticlesDuring this period she also appeared as a reporter on other shows, particularly This Morning interviewing various celebrities.
Other TV presenting gigs from her early days include God's Gift, Pyjama Party, Fanorama and children's Saturday morning TV show Tricky.
But her TV career skyrocketed when she bagged her role on BBC1's Strictly main show alongside Tess Daly in 2014 where Claudia and her quick wit, bold eyeliner and trademark fringe became a Saturday night staple.
Read More Related Articles Who is Claudia Winkleman's sister with a royal connection?
Winkleman's half-sister from her father's second marriage is actress Sophie Winkleman, who is married to Lord Frederick Windsor.
Sophie Winkleman married into the most famous family in the world back in 2019.
Lord Frederick Windsor is the son of the Queen’s first cousin Prince Michael of Kent, making Sophie one of the newest additions to the royals.
The pair have two daughters, Isabella, five, and Maud, eight.
Read More Related ArticlesBoth Winkelman sisters have enjoyed a career in showbiz - Sophie, like her sister, has bagged multiple TV gigs.
She is best known for playing Big Suze in Channel 4’s Peep Show, starring alongside David Mitchell’s Mark Corrigan and Robert Webb’s Jeremy Usborne.
She also starred alongside Olivia Colman in Peep Show, with Olivia later playing her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, in The Crown.
The TV presenter also has a half-brother, Oliver Lloyd, from her mother's second marriage.
Read More Related Articles Who is Claudia Winkleman's 'secret' husband?
Strictly host Claudia has been married to film and TV producer Kris Thykier for 22 years.
Kris has worked on numerous blockbuster films and successful television shows such as Kick-Ass, The Woman in Gold and Sky Atlantic's Riviera.
The 49-year-old star has kept her relationship out of the limelight for the majority of her long career.
Read More Related ArticlesHowever, during an appearance on The Wheel earlier this year, she made a surprise confession about her 'secret' wedding.
The star admitted she thought her wedding dress was "disgusting" in footage aired on the BBC show.
During the TV appearance, Claudia told the contestant, upon realising she had given the incorrect answer: "I am going to buy you a wedding dress because I don't think that's the right answer.
"Mine was disgusting so I won’t lend it to you, but that's what we're going to do."
Read More Related ArticlesAt the end of the show, it was revealed the presenter stuck to her word and took Antonia on a shopping trip to find her dream gown.
Claudia's wedding was a very low key, secret ceremony in London.
She rarely speaks about her marriage, however in a previous interview with Red Magazine, she said she puts the success of her marriage, which has lasted over two decades, down to her husband's willingness for partnership.
She said: "You see, Kris is very Scandinavian. We've been together for 22 years and he's never once said to me, 'What's for dinner?' It's always been, 'What shall we have for dinner?'"
Read More Related ArticlesClaudia told OK! Magazine she fell completely head over heels for Kris thanks to his kind nature and impeccable manners - and his incredible bedroom skills.
She also said she bizarrely won't have sex with her husband if he had drank water.
Claudia explained she has a bizarre phobia of water and she will not kiss her husband if he has just finished a glass.
Read More Related ArticlesThe couple have three children together, Jake, Matilda and Arthur and live in Central London.
Seven years ago, Matilda suffered severe burns after the synethic material of her Halloween costume caught fire while she was trick or treating.
The youngster, then aged eight, was "on fire", according to Claudia, who praised "hero" nurses for saving her daughter.
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