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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Brogan-Leigh Hurst

The Traitors' Claudia Winkleman's famous family - husband, comic sister and parents

The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman has a very famous family, who have achieved huge acclaim in their own right.

The heavy-fringed TV presenter, 50, hails from London's Hampstead with her parents divorcing when she was three.

Claudia went to the prestigious City of London School for Girls, followed by New Hall college in Cambridge, where she obtained a Master of Arts in Art History.

She landed her first TV job in 2001, on regional discussion programme Central Weekend.

Her presenting career skyrocketed when she later bagged her role on BBC1's Strictly main show alongside Tess Daly in 2014 after being bumped up from spin-off show It Takes Two following the death of Bruce Forsyth in August 2017.

It was on Strictly that Claudia and her trademark wit, eyeliner and glossy fringe became a Saturday night staple.

She is successful in her own right (BBC / Guy Levy)
Barry Winkleman remarried after splitting from Claudia's mother (Jabpromotions/REX/Shutterstock)

Strictly has been riding high in the Autumn TV schedule for over 20 years, with Claudia now bagging a role on the UK's hottest new reality show The Traitors.

But what do we know about Claudia's life away from her TV achievements?

Claudia's parents - mum Eve Pollard and dad Barry Winkleman - could well be her inspiration for carving out a career in the media, as they were both journalists.

Her mum Eve is a former editor of the Sunday Express, while her father, 82, was a successful book publisher.

Claudia seen without her trademark fringe on an early TV job in 1995 (John Minihan/Evening Standard/REX/Shutterstock)
Claudia appears on TV in 1996 (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Speaking about Claudia's own glittering career, Eve told the Sunday Times in 2018: "Numerous mothers and fathers have had a famous child.

"But Claudia’s fame is so astonishing because it has crept up slowly and not one bit of it was planned.

"She doesn’t feel famous. If you think you’ve seen her on the Tube, you probably have"

Claudia with her mum Eve (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Women in Film and TV)

While Claudia has no full siblings as her parents split when she was very young, she gained several step-siblings when her parents remarried.

Mum Eve got married again to the former editor of the Daily Express, Nicholas Lloyd, while her father also remarried to children's author Cindy Black.

Claudia gained a younger half-brother called Oliver, through her mum's second marriage.

She also gained a half-sister, Sophie Winkleman - who later became an actress - through her father's second marriage.

Claudia's sister Sophie Winkleman starred in Peep Show alongside Robert Webb - who appeared on Strictly 2021 (Channel 4)

Famous in her own right, Sophie landed the role as Big Suze in Channel 4 comedy Peep Show.

She starred as the ultra posh girlfriend of Jeremy Usbourne, played by Robert Webb - who was a contestant on this year's Strictly before having to withdraw.

Sophie also starred alongside Ashton Kutcher in US sitcom Two and a Half Men.

Since then, Sophie has become a Lady after marrying marry Lord Freddie Windsor - the son of the Queen's first cousin Prince Michael of Kent.

Lady Sophie Windsor and Prince Harry arrive at the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston at Windsor Castle in 2019 (PA)
Lady Sophia Winkleman and Lord Frederick Windsor pose at a charity event in 2015 (Getty Images North America)

In 2000 Claudia tied the knot to talented film producer Kris Thykier.

Kris has worked on numerous blockbuster films and successful television shows such as Kick-Ass, The Woman in Gold and Sky Atlantic's Riviera.

The pair decided to marry in secret after meeting through mutual friends in the 90s.

They now share three children together - Jake, Matilda, and Arthur.

"Children were a slight obsession of mine from quite early on," Claudia previously admitted.

Claudia and her husband (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

While upholding traditional family values, Claudia admitted she never wanted to depend on a man to help out her financially.

"I certainly had aspirations to earn my own money and not have to rely on a man.

"My mum and dad instilled that in me from a very early age. But I didn’t know how I was going to do it," she told Red magazine.

"I thought I was going to write, or work in art. I never thought I would end up standing in a room and reading out loud!"

The TV star also revealed she is happy to shout about her incredible achievements with her pals.

"Weirdly, I don’t minimise my achievements when it comes to friendships. I’m proud of those, I've got the best group of girls," she said.

"And I’m proud that all my kids went to school today with the right bag, and the right snacks – Twiglets, in case you’re wondering."

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