Claudia Winkleman's tears as she nearly quit hosting Strictly despite Tess Daly pact

ok.co.uk:

Claudia Winkleman candidly revealed she almost hung up her Strictly Come Dancing dancing shoes, despite having a "pact" with co-host Tess Daly to exit the show as a duo.

The beloved 49 year old TV presenter once confessed that she was on the brink of leaving the hit BBC dance extravaganza, when she realised it clashed with taking her eldest son Jake to university.The devoted mum-of-three, who returns hosting reality TV show The Piano on Channel 4 on Sunday, 19 May, shared how she was brought to tears over the dilemma, ultimately making an emotional call to a show boss called Sarah, insisting that being there for her son's first day at uni was a non-negotiable parental milestone.

Opening up on BBC Women's Hour, Claudia emotionally recounted: "I phoned the boss of Strictly quite dramatically and said, through tears, 'Sarah, I love you. "I don't want to leave Strictly and Tess [Daly] and I have agreed we will leave together when they're done with us, but if the first show is September 13, I'm out and you'll have to go with somebody else'." Thankfully, Claudia's place on Strictly wasn't jeopardised, although she did last year quit her role hosting Saturday mornings on BBC Radio 2, with comedian Romesh Ranganathan taking over.

Reflecting on Sarah's reaction, she continued: "And there was a beat. And she said, 'Quite dramatic. We don't start that week'." Claudia elaborated: "It's not that I love him more than others love their kids, but this is something parents have to go through." Alongside Jake, Claudia also has Matilda and Arthur with her husband, Kris Thykier.