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.
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