After years of dazzling viewers and making Saturday nights sparkle, Claudia Winkleman’s sudden departure from Strictly Come Dancing has left fans heartbroken — and insiders whispering about what really happened behind the scenes.

Now, new details have emerged suggesting that Claudia’s exit wasn’t entirely her choice. According to close sources, a two-page ultimatum letter was delivered to both Claudia and her long-time co-host Tess Daly, urging them to “step aside” and “make room for a younger presenting team.”

However, one person that was likely nothing less than thrilled by the news, is Claudia’s son Jake Thykier (seen with dad Kris Thykier earlier this month)

The bombshell revelation comes after Claudia’s son, Jake Thykier, 22, spoke out about his mother’s emotional decision to finally walk away from the show she “loved like her own child.”

The Traitors host, 53, has long made it known that the 22-year-old is not a Strictly fan, with him frequently pleading with her to quit hosting the show

💬 “For years, I wanted her to leave… to find something better,” Jake admitted. “But she loved Strictly like it was her baby — her greatest creation. She gave her heart to that show.”

A Farewell Years in the Making

Claudia began hosting Strictly spin-off It Takes Two, the year after Jake was born, moving to presenting the results show in 2010 and finally landing the plummy co-host gig with Tess on the main show in 2014, following Bruce Forsyth’s departure

Claudia’s Strictly journey began back in 2004, when her eldest son was still a baby. Over the years, the show became a second family — and she made it clear she would never leave without Tess by her side.

Yet, behind the glitter and the smiles, tensions had been growing. BBC executives, reportedly eager for a “fresh new face,” began quietly pushing for change.

An insider told the Daily Mail: “They didn’t deserve her loyalty after all these years. The decision had been made long before the public announcement.”

The Emotional Breaking Point

And his feelings towards the show didn’t improve as he got older, with Claudia revealing that Jake doubled down with his pleas after it became a topic of conversation at his school (seen with Kris in 2021)

Sources claim Claudia was devastated when the letter arrived — a formal request for her and Tess to “pass the baton” after two decades on the show. “She felt blindsided,” one source said. “That show meant everything to her. She called it her ‘fourth child.’”

But, Jake very nearly succeeded in making his wish come true, as Claudia revealed she once came very close to leaving Strictly four years ago, due to him heading off to university

The emotional toll was visible even before her final episode. Claudia reportedly confided in friends that she felt “torn between her family and the show,” while Jake encouraged her to finally let go.

💬 “She didn’t leave because she wanted to,” said one friend. “She left because she had no choice.”

Fans in Shock

When Claudia and Tess announced their exit last week in a tearful Instagram video, fans flooded social media with disbelief and heartbreak.

“It’s the end of an era,” one viewer wrote. “They ARE Strictly.”

And he appears to have inherited a strong work ethic from his successful parents, working as a bartender and membership representative for international private members’ club, Soho House, for stints in both Oxford and Mexico

Another commented: “This show will never be the same. Claudia’s warmth and wit made it magical.”

But now, with the shocking two-page letter exposed, fans are questioning what really happened — and whether Claudia’s departure was part of a deeper behind-the-scenes shake-up at the BBC.

A Silent Goodbye

Claudia and Tess – who has hosted the series since its inception in 2004 – agreed to quit Strictly nearly a year ago after a series of heart-to-heart chats

Despite the heartbreak, Claudia and Tess kept their final sign-off graceful, thanking the Strictly team and fans for “21 wonderful years.”

“We’ll cry when we say the last ‘keep dancing’,” they wrote, “but we’ll always say it to each other — even in tracksuits, at home, with pizza.” 🍕

Behind the smiles, though, lies a story of pressure, loyalty, and heartbreak — one that’s left the nation wondering how such a beloved duo could be pushed aside so quietly.

🔥 As one insider put it: “They didn’t just lose hosts. They lost the soul of Strictly.”