The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman has revealed she nearly declined the role (Image: BBC)
has revealed she nearly declined the role that has significantly boosted her television career.
The 53-year-old star admitted that the prospect of filming away from home for three weeks in Scotland nearly deterred her from taking on the show.
Speaking on The Midpoint podcast, she said: “The Traitors is something I initially turned down because I didn’t like leaving my bed or the kids,” she admitted. This revelation comes despite Claudia’s recent BAFTA win for her role on the hit series.
Winkleman’s initial reluctance stemmed from her deep-seated desire to remain close to her family, including her husband, film producer Kris Thykier, and their three children. The thought of straying too far from her family nest in London for an extended period posed a significant challenge. However, her attitude shifted dramatically after she experienced the original Dutch version of the show.
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The show has been an enormous success with Claudia at the helm (Image: BBC)
“They were like ‘would you go to Scotland for three and a half weeks?’ And I was like ‘I don’t think so’ and then I watched the Dutch version and I became so obsessed,” Claudia revealed.
This newfound obsession prompted her to take immediate action. She contacted Kate Phillips at the , expressing her eagerness to participate. “I sent an email to Kate Phillips who offered me the job, saying I’ve booked a train, I want to do this more than anything because it is a privilege to watch the psychology and gameplay up close.”
Her decision to embrace this challenging role has paid off, making The Traitors a must-watch among viewers who applaud the psychological gameplay and the dramatic twists on the show.
Besides discussing her career choices, the BAFTA-winning television presenter also shared insights into the filming process of The Traitors, particularly the intense round-table scenes that have become a signature element of the show.
Claudia scored a BAFTA win for her role on the hit series (Image: Getty)
“All the cameras are hidden. To stand in there and watch people try and work it out is an honour, it’s the thrill of my life,” she explained. The authenticity of these moments is crucial to the show’s success, as everything is filmed live.
“Sometimes they’re very short, sometimes they’re long, we don’t hurry anything, it’s shot as live, I get one chance, and when I go in there if I mess it up – which I have done because I’m so tense – then that’s what’s shown. We shoot the whole thing as is,” Claudia added.
The beloved frontwoman recently announced her latest venture revealing she will temporarily take over while Graham Norton is on tour in Australia with his show, An Evening With Graham Norton.
She addressed this upcoming stint during an episode of The Graham Norton Show, quipping to the audience: “I apologise in advance.” Winkleman is scheduled to step into Norton’s shoes starting February 28.