Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Lifestyle
Megan Nisbet

The Piano: Claudia Winkleman's famous family, husband and royal connection

Claudia Winkleman will be back on screens this February with Channel 4's brand new series, The Piano. The talent show follows amateur pianists who will perform in public at select train stations, including Leeds, London St Pancras, Glasgow and Birmingham.

The contestants believe they are taking part in a documentary, but unbeknown to them it's also a competition. Those involved are secretly being judged and the best of them - one from each station - will perform at the Royal Festival Hall to an audience of thousands in the final episode. You can read more about the show here.

Claudia's new presenting gig comes hot on the heels of BBC's The Traitors. The popular reality game show was a huge hit with audiences when it launched from a castle in the Scottish Highlands a the end of 2022.

Read more: Channel 4 The Piano: What's it about, how to watch and who are Claudia Winkleman's co-hosts

Aside from The Piano and The Traitors, Claudia is of course known for hosting Strictly Come Dancing, which she has co-presented alongside Tess Daly since 2014. But before that she was the host of Strictly sister show, It Takes Two from 2004 before moving onto the main show. She started her TV career on 90s TV, appearing on Holiday, Fame Academy, Talking Telephone Numbers, Liquid News and more. So as she bursts back onto screens again, here's a glimpse at the popular presenter's life off-screen and her incredibly talented family.

Claudia Winkleman's husband

Claudia has been married for 22 years and is a mum of three. The presenter tied the knot to talented film producer Kris Thykier in 2000.

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 couple are generally private about their home life but Claudia has previously opened up about a terrifying incident involving her daughter Matilda, who was seriously injured and taken to hospital when her Halloween costume caught fire.

Matilda was eight when her fancy dress outfit went up in flames after she brushed against a candle in 2014. Claudia later appeared on Watchdog to talk about the incident in which she recalled her daughter being "on fire" and called it a "life-changing" moment.

Claudia Winkelman's famous parents

Claudia has followed in her parent's footsteps by working in the media as her mum is former editor of the Sunday Express, Eve Pollard. Meanwhile, her dad, Barry Winkleman, was a successful book publisher.

Her parents split when she was three and went on to remarry, with Claudia gaining a younger half-brother through her mum's second marriage and a half-sister through her father's second marriage.

Claudia Winkelman's royal connection

Claudia's half-sister is also known in the television world. Sophie Winkleman is an actress who has starred in shows such as Peep Show, as Big Suze, and Two and a Half Men alongside Ashton Kutcher.

Actress Sophie Winkleman attended the Queen's funeral (BBC)

In 2009, Sophie married Lord Frederick Windsor. He is the son of the late Queen's first cousin Prince Michael of Kent. The pair have two daughters, Isabella and Maud. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.

The Piano begins on Wednesday, February 15 at 9pm on Channel 4. There are five episodes in the series and each will air across five consecutive weeks.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.