Strictly Come Dancing legend Claudia Winkleman, who’s stepping down as co-host of the BBC hit, mentioned everybody was “screaming” in the course of the horror Halloween accident

Claudia Winkleman has opened up about her daughter’s “life-changing” accident.

The Strictly host has introduced that she is leaving the BBC present after this collection. Claudia and Tess Daly, who have hosted Strictly collectively since 2014, mentioned in a video that they felt the time was proper to “move over the baton”.

Claudia as soon as recalled the horror second her daughter Matilda’s Halloween costume went up in flames in 2014. Matilda was simply eight years previous when her witch costume brushed in opposition to a candle whereas out trick or treating.

She instructed BBC Watchdog: “I used to be speaking to any person, after which I simply heard her scream. She simply screamed ‘Mummy’ and I turned spherical and that was that, she was simply on fireplace.

“Everybody was screaming. She was screaming, all the youngsters there have been screaming… It looks like she was on fireplace for hours however the surgeon mentioned that undoubtedly wasn’t the case and it was most likely simply seconds.

“However she went up, is the one method I understand how to explain it. It was not like fireplace I had seen earlier than.” She added: “We could not put her out. We could not put her out – like in case your shirt caught fireplace or something I may put it out.

“It was the tights that… they got here again to life. It was like these horrific birthday candles that you simply blow out after which they arrive again.”

Discussing Matilda’s burns, Claudia defined: “It is life-changing however not life-defining. It was undoubtedly life-changing for me. I am unable to bear in mind life earlier than it.”

Claudia is mum to Matilda, now 19, in addition to sons Jake, 21, and Arthur, 13. The presenter has spoken about desirous to spend extra time together with her household – final yr she stepped down from her BBC Radio 2 present.

She mentioned: “Time goes too quick, my daughter is on the point of go away dwelling and he or she was three about 5 minutes in the past. I nonetheless have a bit one who desires to be with me – I do not understand how lengthy that can final, and I simply must be at dwelling extra.”

In a joint assertion saying their exit from Strictly, Claudia and Tess Daly mentioned: “We have now cherished working as a duo and internet hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We had been at all times going to depart collectively and now looks like the precise time.

“We could have the best remainder of this wonderful collection and we simply need to say an unlimited thanks to the BBC and to each single one who works on the present. They’re essentially the most good workforce and we’ll miss them day by day.

“We are going to cry after we say the final “maintain dancing” however we’ll proceed to say it to one another. Simply probably in tracksuit bottoms at dwelling whereas holding some pizza.”

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