Strictly host Claudia Winkleman's daughter in hospital with burns after Halloween mishap

Claudia Winkleman's eight-year-old daughter is in hospital after she was burned while celebrating Halloween.

Matilda is thought to have been out trick-or-treating on October 31 when the accident occurred with a candle.

Claudia, 42, and her husband Kris Thykier said in a statement that they're hopeful their daughter will make a full recovery.

"Our daughter was involved in an accident on Friday night while celebrating Halloween. She is having the best care possible and we are hopeful of a full recovery," the couple said.

"We would like to thank everyone that has been so supportive and particularly the NHS doctors, nurses and staff who have been absolutely incredible.

"We would like to take this opportunity to remind anyone taking part in fireworks parties or Guy Fawkes celebrations to be vigilant about the dangers of candles, open fires and fireworks and to please have the appropriate safety measures in place and to hand."

Claudia missed Strictly Come Dancing at the weekend following the incident.

The presenter was replaced by Zoe Ball when she pulled out of the BBC One show, when it was announced that one of her children had "become ill".

It is not yet known whether the TV host will be returning to Strictly at the weekend.

Claudia and her film producer husband have three young children - Jake and Arthur as well as Matilda.

The presenter took over as regular host of Strictly, joining Tess Daly, after Sir Bruce Forsyth bowed out from the show.

A BBC spokeswoman said when Claudia was absent at the weekend: "Claudia can't be with us tonight.

"One of her children is unwell, we wish them a speedy recovery. Zoe Ball from It Takes Two will be stepping in to co-host with Tess."

 

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.