Claudia Winkleman has revealed she threatened to leave Strictly Come Dancing so that she could be with her son Jake Thykier on his first day of university.
Appearing on BBC’s Women’s Hour podcast on Monday, the TV presenter, 49, admitted there were ‘plenty of tears’ during her ultimatum phone call with the show’s boss, Sarah James.
Fearing the first date of the previous season would clash with her son’s big day, she recalled: ‘I phoned the boss of Strictly quite dramatically and said, through tears, “Sarah I love you.
Priorities: Claudia Winkleman has revealed she threatened to leave Strictly Come Dancing so that she could be with her son Jake Thykier on his first day of university
‘”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.
‘And there was a beat. And she said, “Quite dramatic. We don’t start that week.”
‘I was like, “alright”. I have to go and put up his posters. It’s not that I love him more than others love their kids, but this is something parents have to go through.’
Claudia is the mother to daughter Matilda, 15, and sons Jake, 18, and Arthur, 10, with her husband of 21 years Kris Thykier.
Dramatic: Appearing on Women’s Hour podcast on Monday, the TV presenter, 49, admitted there were ‘plenty of tears’ during her ultimatum phone call with the show’s boss, Sarah James (pictured Motsi Mabuse on the show)
In November 2020, the star explained why her ‘rampant’ impostor syndrome makes her better at presenting Strictly.
The TV presenter, who replaced Bruce Forsyth on the hit BBC show in 2014, suggested that the condition fills her with so much doubt, she doesn’t believe she landed the job.
However, Claudia, who co-hosts the show with Tess, 52, said her impostor syndrome drives her to work harder and be better at her job.
The broadcaster was asked by Chris Evans on his How to Wow podcast how her impostor syndrome is.
She said: ‘[It’s] rampant… raging. I’m thanking my parents for the elaborate ways they have made me feel successful.
Tense: She recalled: ‘I phoned the boss of Strictly quite dramatically and said, through tears, “Sarah I love you… but if the first show is September 13, I’m out”‘ (pictured with Strictly presenters Zoe Ball and Tess Daly)
‘I think Strictly is just a lovely home video they’ve created for me so I don’t think it’s all been a disaster.’
Despite presenting one of the biggest shows on TV, Claudia downplayed her success, claiming ‘I don’t feel famous on any level’.
She added: ‘If you think about what I actually do or when I appear, it’s just 10 weekends in autumn, that’s it.’
However, Claudia insisted that impostor syndrome improves her work, saying: ‘I think impostor syndrome is quite important.
Marriage: Claudia is the mother to daughter Matilda, 15, and sons Jake, 18, and Arthur, 10, with her husband of 21 years Kris Thykier (pictured in June)
‘There are lots of things we’re told that are really bad, like guilt, but guilt is quite important as if you feel guilty about something it’s probably true.
‘And I think we should also feel impostor syndrome a bit. We’ve met people who go “I’m born for this” and they are tools.
‘Not if it’s crippling, and not if it’s about anxiety or anybody is really struggling at work.. but I think feeling that you’re going to get caught out just slightly makes you work harder, makes you grateful, and makes you better at your job.
‘I think that’s a much more natural and better way to be.’
‘I don’t feel famous on any level’: In November 2020, the star explained why her ‘rampant’ impostor syndrome makes her better at presenting Strictly