KATE SILVERTON

felt compelled to defend herself after being accused of neglecting her parental duties to star in the new series of Strictly, which returns next week.

The 48-year- old BBC newsreader, who has a daughter, Clemency, six, and a four-yearold son, Wilbur, with her former Royal Marine husband Mike Heron, went head-to-head with a male critic on Twitter.

‘ I take my time with my children very seriously — my children will both be at school when I am training — it’s the reason I have agreed to do Strictly this year,’ she said.

‘I agree mothering is the most important job — but I would never seek to preach.’ Touche!