Claudia Winkleman refuses intimacy with husband and says he should be 'ashamed'

Daily Mirror

11-05-2025

Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman has been married to film producer Kris Thykier for 24 years - but there is one thing that stops her getting intimate with him
Strictly's own Claudia Winkleman has made a rather unusual admission regarding her bedroom antics with hubby Kris Thykier. The much-loved 53 year old telly star confesses there's an intimacy no-go if Kris has been guzzling water.
Dishing the peculiar detail on the Off Menu podcast, headed by comedic duo Ed Gamble and James Acaster back in 2020, Claudia revealed her aversion to water is quite serious. "I don't like or believe in water, I won't have it," she quipped. Apparently, even a glass of water approaching her at a table is enough to raise flags, as she says: "It's a solid no from me."
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Claudia dived deeper into this phobia affecting her love life, remarking: "My husband drinks great amounts of water and I really like him but it's problematic. He's glugging. Don't touch me. 'Claud, take your bra off.' I don't think so – you should be ashamed of yourself."
The mum-of-three gave us more context: "Imagine you're on a date – I've been with the same man for 100 years. He's sitting there and he's like: 'I don't know what to have, what are you going to have? Maybe we should have the same thing.' And someone comes round and says: 'Would you like some water? And he goes: 'Yeah, sure,'" reports OK!.
"And they give him a pint glass of water and he drinks the whole thing. Are you going to want to kiss this many anymore? No. A wet mouth with a big fleshy tongue that is covered in liquid."
Claudia then shockingly revealed her peculiar aversion, stating it's not just water that turns her off, but practically all fluids. "I want a dry shrivelled up little man, I want to sleep with Mr Burns, he doesn't drink water, I want him at the table," she explained.
"I just don't like liquid, I don't like wine, there's all kinds of stuff. Is this too weird?"
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Married for the past 24 years to movie producer Kris, Claudia tied the knot back in 2000. The pair share three kids: Jake, Matilda, and Arthur.
Claudia wows audiences presenting a series of TV shows – she co-hosts Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC, alongside her pal Tess Daly, and also presents The Piano and The Traitors. The line-up for the celebrity version of The Traitors has been revealed. Filming is underway for the hit BBC show - also hosted by Claudia Winkleman - and some very famous faces are set to enter the Scottish castle.
As previously confirmed by The Mirror, comedians Bob Mortimer and Alan Carr and former child star Charlotte Church lead the list of big names.