Strictly Come Dancing fans were recently stunned when Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced their departure from the iconic BBC dance show after more than a decade. While many viewers are saddened by the end of this era, Claudia’s eldest son, Jake Thykier, may have mixed feelings about the news.
Jake, now 22, has openly expressed discomfort with his mother’s role on Strictly, describing it as embarrassing during his teenage years. Claudia revealed in a 2018 interview on The Dan Wootton Interview podcast that back when Jake was 15, he told her, “Mum, if you really love me, you’d stop.” The teenager’s honest plea stemmed from typical adolescent embarrassment about his famous mother’s glittering Saturday night television presence.
Despite Jake’s protests, Claudia did not take offense. Instead, she embraced the role that made her cringe her son with a playful spirit: “My job is to embarrass him,” she said, joking that she would go out of her way just to annoy him.
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Years later, at the 2023 Edinburgh TV Festival where Claudia was honored with an Outstanding Achievement Award, she recounted a similar incident: “My son said to me, ‘Mum, you have got to stop doing Strictly, it’s so embarrassing and my teacher has mentioned it.’” Claudia, ever the witty mother, diffused the tension by joking about his trainers and winning him over with lighthearted humor.
Jake even suggested alternative television roles for his mother. On a 2024 podcast, Claudia shared that Jake encouraged her to move to something like Match of the Day, though she quipped, “I can’t spell football!” which kept her firmly away from sports presenting.
Claudia, who also has two other children—daughter Matilda, 19, and son Arthur, 14—with her husband Kris Thykier, a Danish film producer, appears to share a close, loving relationship with her children, marked by humor and mutual respect.
With Claudia and Tess Daly stepping down from Strictly, Jake will no longer have to endure his mother’s Saturday night TV role that once made him cringe. Claudia has hinted at exciting new plans, including talks for her own chat show with the creators of The Graham Norton Show, marking a fresh chapter in her career.
Away from the limelight, Jake maintains a low profile. He’s pursued education and a career in hospitality, studying at the prestigious EHL Hospitality Business School in Switzerland, and gaining experience at luxury venues like Copenhagen’s Absalon Hotel and Soho House branches in Oxford and Mexico. Currently, he works as a bar manager in Lausanne, balancing his professional ambitions outside of the media glare.
As Claudia embarks on new projects, Jake’s early teenage embarrassment seems to have softened into pride and support — a testament to their strong family bond that goes beyond the glitz of television.