Claudia Winkleman asked a humiliating apology from Strictly star Kristina Rihanoff after falsely claiming that her relationship with Ben Cohen began while they were together on the show in 2013.

The 50-year-old apologized for her comments while filming The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan on Channel 4.

“The couple that I knew had formed was Ben and Kristina,” said Claudia, second mail online.

READ MORE: Mary Berry excludes Strictly Come Dancing despite the close friendship with the host

Kristina has always said that her romance with Ben began just a year after he appeared on the BBC show with her.

They collaborated in the contest in 2013 when, at the time, Ben had been with his wife Abby for 11 years.

However, after their marriage ended in 2014, he and Kristina started a relationship.

The Strictly dancer was furious at Claudia’s misrepresentation and reportedly even threatened to take legal action against her.



This led to the host asking a humiliating apology to Kristina and Cohen.

In a message, seen by MailOnline, Claudia declared: “[I] I’m sorry. I thought the question was who found long-term love. [via Strictly].

“I said ‘Ben and Kristina’ excitedly, then I said Stacey and Kevin [referring to Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton who were on the show together in 2018 and have been together since 2019]. “

Claudia continued: “Sorry, I’m an idiot. It was a two-second moment. “



by Claudia

It is not yet known if Claudia’s comments will be removed from the show that airs tonight (June 24).

Since they met in 2014, Strictly Pro and Ben have had a daughter named Mila.

Ben also has twin daughters from his previous marriage to Abby, who has been very vocal about her ex-husband’s betrayal.

In 2015, she said, “My husband, who I’ve been with for 23 years, loved unconditionally and completely loyal in every way, he left me for the fucking Russian ballerina.”



However, he said in an interview with New! Revision who now “regrets” having said those things about Kristina.

She said: “At the time of the breakup, when I was very stressed, I once angrily called Ben’s partner a ‘fucking Russian dancer’ with a reporter who bothered me. Now I regret it.”

Before Kristina and Ben met, the Russian dancer had a four-year romance with former Strictly dance partner Joe Calzaghe from 2009 to 2013.

READ NEXT:

  • Strictly’s Claudia Winkleman says she would still be “a virgin” without her famous bangs
  • Lisa Armstrong shows off her radiant new look in a sundress while on vacation
  • Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice alludes to the possibility of leaving the role of dancer as he talks about the future of the BBC

For more information on the latest entertainment news from, be sure to subscribe to one of our newsletters here.