Claudia Winkleman could be absent for the remainder of the current series of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The 42-year-old star joined Tess Daly as host of the BBC One celebrity dance contest earlier this year but a family emergency has meant she’s missed the last two weeks and will also be absent this weekend when the celebrities and their dance partners head to Blackpool to perform at the Tower Ballroom.
Claudia and husband Kris Thykier’s eight-year-old daughter Matilda was badly burned while out trick-or-treating on Halloween (31.10.14) and the beloved TV host is reportedly not yet ready to leave her hospital bedside.
A source said: "Getting the gig on Strictly was a dream for Claudia, so it’s cruel that she has had to pull out when things were going so well.
"But she is not going to leave Matilda’s side until she is sure she is ready."
And the brunette beauty – who hosted the results show last year and previously presented spin-off show ‘It Takes Two’ before taking over as co-host after Sir Bruce Forsyth stepped down earlier this year – will only return if her daughter’s condition improves.
The source added to The Sun newspaper: "Matilda is taking great strides in her recovery, but a long way off being completely better and Claudia just doesn’t think it would be appropriate to be on stage being upbeat while her daughter is unwell.
"At this stage she is refusing to put a time on when she’ll be back. She is going to give it as long as it takes and the BBC is being incredibly understanding."
‘It Takes Two’ host Zoe Ball has stepped in as replacement until Claudia – who also has sons Jake and Arthur with Kris – is ready to return.
Claudia Winkleman to miss remainder of Strictly Come Dancing?
