Strictly's Claudia Winkleman says 'I almost left him' after husband made one request

Wales Online

13-06-2025

Strictly's Claudia Winkleman says 'I almost left him' after husband made one request
Claudia Winkleman, who presents Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors, has been married to husband Kris Thykier for over 25 years, but says one request put her out of her comfort zone
Claudia joked she 'almost left' her husband after he had one request
(Image:for Sky Atlantic )
Claudia Winkleman admits she 'nearly left' her husband Kris Thykier after he had one seemingly innocuous request.
The Traitors star Claudia, 53, has been married to 53-year-old Kris for almost 25 years. The couple share children Jake, Matilda and Arthur together.
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But Claudia joked that she came close to walking out on Kris when he suggested they take an impromptu trip away together. Writing in the Telegraph, Claudia said: 'Yes. I almost left him.
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'Last minute? Pardon? Hello? Has he met me? We've been together for 27 years and I've never, ever done anything on the hoof/spontaneous/on a whim.'
The Strictly Come Dancing presenter joked that she knows what the family will have for dinner on the 'third Thursday in November' and likes to plan out their holidays in early January. Claudia insists she is the 'opposite of carefree' and the 'antithesis of wild'.
Kris wanted to go on a 'last minute' trip away
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Although she decided this time to concede to her husband and decided to 'go along' with his plan. So, with just five days until they left, Claudia found herself booked onto a trip to Marrakech in Morocco.
Claudia joked she 'didn't have the right sun cream' and had only done a 'three-minute search' for restaurants near where they were staying. Upon reaching their destination however, Claudia admits it was 'heaven'.
She described the city's medina as an 'absolute assault on your senses' and encouraged fans to visit. Claudia was particularly wowed by the vegetables, sugar-cane and dried fruits on offer.
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After their whirlwind break away to north Africa, Claudia and Kris' marriage remains intact, and the star appears to have shifted her views on spontaneity. She added: 'At 53 I've had to change my outlook. Maybe (and this is not a promise) we won't have chilli con carne on November 20 after all.'
Claudia and Kris married in 2000
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Claudia, who joined Tess Daly as Strictly host in 2014 after Sir Bruce Forsyth retired, is said to have met Kris through friends. The couple are private away from their public careers and like to keep their children out of the spotlight.
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In 2014 however, they suffered a terrible ordeal when Matilda, then eight, was seriously injured after her Halloween costume caught fire. Thankfully, she made a full recovery and the incident sparked government changes around the regulations of costume standards.
Kris and Claudia tied the knot in a secret service at Marylebone Town Hall in 2000. Claudia later admitted that her dress was 'disgusting'.
Speaking on The Wheel in 2021, she told a contestant on the gameshow: "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."
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The family reside in London, with Claudia previously paying tribute to the English capital. Speaking to the Evening Standard, she stated: "I can leave my house at 4am and buy a kebab, rent a movie and get some shampoo."