With the highly anticipated return of The Traitors just days away, host Claudia Winkleman has unveiled one of the show's most iconic style secrets: the £975 Saint Laurent boots she deliberately wears to heighten the drama. The presenter confirmed she has worn the same designer footwear during the crucial first roundtable in every series, using their heavy, clumpy sound to ratchet up the tension.
The Sound of Suspicion: How Boots Build the Drama
While promoting the fourth series, which launches on January 1 on BBC One and iPlayer, Winkleman shared her unique approach to the pivotal moment where she selects the Traitors. 'The walk around the table is very tense,' she told the Daily Mail. 'I try and wear clumpy footwear to add to it. It gets a bit flamenco.'
She happily confirmed that co-star Alan Carr's description of her walking 'like a cart horse' was 'bang on'. The specific boots are Saint Laurent's Theo Chelsea boots, a favourite of Winkleman's that she owns in three variations. For the first three civilian series and again in the upcoming fourth, she has relied on these boots, costing just under a thousand pounds, to create an auditory atmosphere of suspense.
A Wardrobe of Deception: From Saint Laurent to Givenchy
Winkleman's Traitors wardrobe has become legendary, with each choice meticulously considered. For the main series, the Saint Laurent boots are her go-to. 'They need to be incredibly loud,' she explained, even joking about switching to tap shoes in future. However, for the standalone Celebrity Traitors edition which aired in October 2025 and broke records with over 14 million viewers, she opted for a even more extravagant pair: Givenchy Shark Lock knee-high boots retailing at £1,915.
Later in each series, she is frequently spotted in her trusted Bottega Veneta Lug ankle boots, priced at £1,080. Looking ahead, Winkleman revealed a thematic direction for her costumes, moving from the 'Cruella' vibe of the celebrity series to a 'full Oliver Twist' aesthetic next year, though she joked about the limitations of borrowing high-end fashion.
New Series, New Levels of Treachery
The new civilian series promises 12 one-hour episodes of heightened deception. Twenty-two new contestants will compete for a prize pot of up to £120,000. Winkleman teased that this series contains 'something new' and 'truly extraordinary' moments that made her gasp. 'The producers have the greatest minds on earth. You think you know how to win. Turns out you don't,' she said, hinting at major twists.
Following the monumental success of the celebrity version, which has already been renewed for a 2026 season, the pressure is on. Winkleman contrasted the playstyles, noting the new civilian players are less polite and the game gets 'very heated' because 'the money means a lot to them'. She also sternly added that not even her family can extract spoilers, lest she lose her job.
The Traitors returns with its fourth series on Wednesday, January 1 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
