I love Claudia on the show but this is way more important. If she needs to take the rest of the series off then she should. I hope this makes people who get really nasty about the contestants on this show change their priorities! At the end of the day, this is just a fun, entertainment show and it doesn't actually matter who wins.

I hope Matilda makes a full recovery. Sad to see a lot of trolls targeting Claudia on Twitter, where is their compassion?

I love Claudia too, and as much as I would love to see her return to Strictly, the health and well being of her child comes first. She is definitely doing the right thing and I wish her daughter a speedy recovery.

I didn't know about the trolls on twitter as I never go on it, just shows what sick b**tards there are about.

Claudia is lucky that she doesn't have to "soldier on" and is taking advantage of that. I don't blame her in the slightest for taking as much time off as she likes, if I was in her position I would do the same.

Claudia also does a job where she has to be bubbly and happy all the time, with what she is going through she maybe feels she can't do that side of the job. I am also sure if she did return to work people would see that as a way to attack her for "having fun" while her daughter lies injured.

It would probably be a wise move for her not to return this year and start a fresh next year when things are better for her personally. I hope her daughter makes a full recovery.

So it is twisted now into knocking the BBC! I think most large organisations and companies can treat staff well but Claudia is unlikely to be BBC staff, she will be freelance. I doubt that they are paying her whilst she is off but they could do so as a goodwill gesture, they have probably put her contract on one side and just told her to take as long off as she needs. I would not think she is thinking about the financial side

Claudia can have the pennies from my licence fee that goes to pay her salary while she is off, and welcome.

Nice one aggs

Me too Aggs, I don't know what sort of person would begrudge them in these circumstances.

I only want to see Claudia back when she can be back to her normal self, that means things are returning to normal for her and her family. Such a traumatic and horrific time for her and her whole family.

Also I don't know who would expect the BBC to behave any differently than they have. She is on an entertainment show and hence is expected to be entertaining. If she were an actor in a private company or a footballer, they would have organised a benefit for her and her child.

If she were a doctor, nurse or teacher you would not expect her back, who would want to be looked after by someone distracted by what is happening with her daughter?

There are few jobs she could do well at this time and I think any employer who would want her back are also few and far between, a shop assistant unable to provide customer care, a call centre operated liable to cry mid call, a factory worker unable to concentrate and liable to make mistakes.

I am not sure who would want Claudia back at this time nor expect the BBC to expect her back.

I hope she is back when she is able but I am not sure it can be this year, if it is I will be delighted as it means things are improving enough for her to be there.

No, you didn't 'hate' to say it at all. You came in this thread specifically TO say it.

Which tells me and the rest of DS all we need to know about you as a person.

As for Claudia being 'lucky' that she is 'allowed' the time off or that the BBC is generous (or more generous than any other employer on these circumstances), I don't think she or her family are counting her child's serious condition as being 'lucky' (except in the sense that it could have been fatal). She is doing what any parent would do - especially as she is undoubtedly on a freelance contract and that allows for much more freedom anyway. She is being with her child and her family. Who are all far more important than some silly light entertainment show

And the BBC can allow her that time if she is freelance. But even so, other companies have and will continue to cater to their employees needs in a situation like this. Not all of them, obviously, but family is much more important than work. Especially when there are co workers who will step in to help out (as we did in a similar situation for a colleague earlier this year).

I doubt anyone is suggesting that Zoe would object to helping a friend and colleague in such awful circumstances, but it does have to be faced Zoe cannot be expected to keep doing ITT five times a week AND the live show and filming for Sunday without her suffering.

It would be far better for Zoe, SCD and the viewing public if a break for Zoe or a couple of days off during the week so she can remain at the top of her performance for the rest of this season.

Remember Zoe was brought in for ITT when Claudia took over the Sunday show only. So it would only be logical that Zoe cannot take on two jobs for the rest of this season.

I don't know that Zoe would be stretched to the limit by doing these hours. My son's gf works for the Southwest Ambulance Service doing 12 hour night shifts atm. She has to be 100% alert at all times ready to answer people in distress from Bristol to The Lizard and there are loads of jobs equally or more taxing.
I think Zoe with all her energy will be fine,love her and Claudia, best wishes to Matilda xx

Bearing in mind that working hours will include prep and rehearsals and possibly the requirement to be available six days out of seven for some time, and bearing in mind she also has a family, and Zoe does from time to time sit in on R2 and no doubt she does public appearances and what have you. I trust for her sake that if things become problematic though in terms of her commitment to SCD/ITT and balancing everything else then other options in whatever guise will be looked at.

The schedule doesn't involve working 7 days a week though does it. It's just she appears on TV 7 days a week. ITT films on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, SCD itself on Saturday. Working 4 days a week - and yes Saturday in particular is a long day - doesn't sound so bad does it? I'm pretty sure, given the circumstances, she's going to be OK with committing to this.

Claudia should be comfortable taking as much time as she needs to be with her daughter. Right now it's totally correct that the show isn't her priority and I think it's in safe hands right now...

I think Zoe will cope fine, it is a programme that she obviously loves and she is helping out a friend. We all hope that Claudia will be back for the final but perhaps they should alter the format slightly for the final to allow all three women to take part in some way as a way of thanking Zoe for her help.

I hope that nobody has a go at Claudia if she does come back soon. I know from my time spent in hospitals that you can get to the point where you aren't doing any good staying there all the time, any good for the patient or any good for yourself.

I have never suggested that Zoe would be filming or working seven days a week. I am merely going with what has been done in the past as I mentioned in my original post when Claudia stepped up to filming the Sunday show the BBC in their wisdom brought In Zoe for ITT. I personally think in order to maintain the standards on the live show especially, they should bring in someone for a couple of days each week or even a whole week to prevent Zoe from letting the side down on one of the live shows.

Strictly is a major 'thing' for the BBC and they don't want to get any criticism about the quality of the show, even under these horrible circumstances, all because someone is too willing to help out a friend and colleague

Have those that are suggesting Zoe needs a break during the week thought that if she does I expect it will be Lisa Riley they would bring in. As it is only another 4 or 5 weeks now I doubt Zoe would need any help.

As a mother and grandmother I just can't get out of my head how awful it must be for Claudia and hope Matilda is on the road to recovery.

This is what worries me. I hope that Lisa blooming Riley isn't being lined up for any future presenting role on Strictly.

That will be its death knell for me if it happens

Every decent job allows leave of absence for terrible things. It's ordinary. And if the BBC didn't then they would be a shame as it's one of the nation's flagships for decency.

She takes as long as her daughter needs.

Zoe will cope, or they'll get someone else to help, and we should all be behind Claudia and the BBC.

Except if they bring in Lisa Riley, because that would be a stupid decision.

I thought Claudia resigned from ITT to spend more time with her family and was then offered the sunday show to keep her in the family so to speak and because it was going to be too much for Brucie

That would definitely be the end for me - I'm allergic!

Yeah, Claudia should simply come back next year. I feel like people are missing a point about the public nature of her job, it's very different to a regular job where you're not under such public scrutiny.