The newest series of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing is fast approaching. All the contestants have been announced with one of them making history as the oldest contestant to ever take part.
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However, while the celebrity contestants change every year, the two hosts have stayed the same since Claudia Winkleman joined in 2014. Before joining the iconic show Winkleman worked as a travel journalist, later having columns about lifestyle, sex and relationships.
Since she started working on TV in the 1990s Winkleman has become a staple of British television. But did you know that she also has close ties to the Royal Family?
Claudia Winkleman’s royal relative
Claudia Winkleman herself leads a pretty normal life. She married film producer Kris Thykier in 2000 and the two have three children together. On social media Winkleman doesn’t share much of her personal life, preferring to put the highlight on her professional ventures.
However, her sister Sophie lives a drastically different life. Indeed, Sophie, who is the daughter born within Winkleman’s father’s second marriage, chose to become an actress. She also married into the Royal Family in 2009.
Sophie Winkleman (as she is known as an actress) married Lord Frederick Windsor the son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. The couple has two daughters. Being married into royalty has not forbidden her to pursue her acting career but she also has other duties. Indeed, in 2020, she became patron of the Children's Surgery Foundation.
In 2020 she said:
The Queen's been wonderful, Prince Charles has been wonderful, Prince William's been heaven. (...) They'd never tell me off at all if I wanted to play some [racy] role. Everyone's looked after me.
Read more: Strictly Come Dancing salaries revealed: Host, judges, professional dancers and celebrities
Claudia Winkleman’s net worth
While her sister is living her best royal life, Winkleman is busy being one of the faces of the highly popular show Strictly Come Dancing. While this may be what she is most known for now, Winkleman’s career has been long and durable enabling her to make a significant amount of money.
It is reported that for Strictly, she earns £150,000 per series. While this is a significant amount of money, Winkleman has also had many other jobs in the media. Whether it’s TV, radio or printing press, Winkleman’s done it all.
This allows her to enjoy a reported net worth of £12 million.
Read more:
⋙ Anton Du Beke's salary: Here's how much he reportedly earns on Strictly Come Dancing
⋙ Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas hints she may not be a part of the show for long
Sources:
Red Online: Claudia Winkleman's sister Sophie talks marrying into the royal family
Hello Magazine: How much are the celebrities paid on Strictly Come Dancing?