Claudia Winkleman has been the host of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing since 2014 after Bruce Forsyth retired. Claudia also hosts a Radio 2 show and has been in the industry for almost 30 years.
Discover our latest podcast
Claudia, 50, is married to Kris Thykier and has a small family with the film producer. Like many other celebrities, Winkleman prefers to keep her family life private but has been seen at several events with her husband.
Let’s take a look at this couple’s 23-year marriage and how they navigate life as a couple during tough times, like during the pandemic and more importantly, who is Kris Thykier?
Claudia Winkleman and Kris Thykier married in 2000
As reported by The Sun, it is not known when or where the couple met for the first time. Claudia Winkleman and Kris Thykier married in June 2000 at Marylebone Town Hall and the secret ceremony was only attended by their closest friends and family.
Despite being rather private about her home life, Claudia did reveal what it is like to be married to Kris and that she basically ‘married a feminist’. She explained to the Sun that her husband is ‘very Danish’ and therefore doesn’t expect her to have dinner ready on the table:
So, it’s not up to me to make dinner, it’s not up to me to make lunch and it’s not up to him to take the kids outside to play catch.
Adding that her mother would be pleased that she married a feminist:
In 20 years of marriage he has not once asked me what’s for dinner.
I married a feminist, my mother wouldn’t have let me not.
Claudia Winkleman and Kris Thykier have three children
Claudia Winkleman and Kris Thykier have three children together, Jake, who was born in 2003, Matilda, who was born in 2006 and Arthur, who was born in 2011. The family of five live in Connaught Square in London, as reported by The Sun.
Once again, despite keeping their home life private, Claudia and Kris’ daughter, Matilda, made headlines in 2014 for a very tragic reason.
Indeed, Matilda, who had been 8 at the time, was rushed to hospital on Halloween, after her costume had caught fire whilst out trick or treating. It had been revealed that Matilda’s costume had brushed against a candle inside a pumpkin.
As a result of this tragic incident, the government tightened the regulations surrounding costume standards.
Another time Claudia talked about one of her children is when she was concerned that the start of Strictly would clash with her son’s first day at university. She told BBC’s Women’s Hour podcast, as reported by Metro:
I phoned the boss of Strictly quite dramatically and said, through tears, “Sarah, I love you. I don’t want to leave Strictly and Tess [Daly] and I have agreed we will leave together when they’re done with us, but if the first show is September 13, I’m out and you’ll have to go with somebody else”
Read more:
⋙ Strictly’s Motsi Mabuse: Here's everything we know about her Ukrainian husband Evgenij Vozynuk
⋙ Strictly Come Dancing: Here are things you didn’t know about host Tess Daly
Who is Claudia Winkleman’s husband, Kris Thykier?
Kris Thykier was born on January 13, 1972, in London. Kris is a film producer and is most known for Stardust (2007), The Debt(2010), Kick-Ass (2010), and I Give It A Year(2013).
Thykier was also an executive producer for Bradley Coope’s film Burnt(2015) as well as for Your Christmas or Mine? (2015). Kris was also the executive producer for the TV series Riviera, which ran from 2017 to 2020.
Kris Thykier has been nominated for two Bafta awards, once in 2015 for the Best Film Not in the English Language category with Trash, and then a second time in 2018 for Best Mini series with The State.
Sources used:
The Sun: ‘CLAUDIA'S GUY Who is Claudia Winkleman’s husband Kris Thykier?’
Metro: ‘Is Claudia Winkleman married? Husband and children of Strictly Come Dancing host’