Television presenter Claudia Winkleman celebrated her 54th birthday in the company of music legends, sharing a festive update with her followers on Instagram this Thursday.
A Star-Studded Birthday Gathering
The host of the hit BBC series The Traitors posted a selfie featuring herself alongside famed musician and broadcaster Jools Holland and singer-songwriter Mika. The trio were pictured in what appeared to be a train station setting, with Winkleman wrapped up warmly in a black wool coat and posing in front of a piano.
She captioned the joyful image: '54 today. Celebrating with these legends', tagging both of her famous companions. Winkleman currently stars with Mika on the Channel 4 talent programme The Piano, which showcases amateur pianists performing on public pianos across the United Kingdom.
Updates on The Piano and a Shelved Special
The third series of the heartwarming show aired in May of last year, and the recent gathering has sparked speculation that another series could be in development. This was further supported by the confirmation back in October that the series had been renewed for a fourth season, expected to air later this year.
However, plans for a festive special were reportedly disrupted due to tragic events. Filming for a Christmas episode was due to take place at London's King's Cross station but was shelved following a mass stabbing on a train service from Doncaster to King's Cross in November.
The horrifying attack left eleven people hospitalised, nine in life-threatening condition. In the days after, British Transport Police confirmed five of the injured remained in hospital, with one in a critically unwell state. The incident caused major travel disruption, with services cancelled and a 'do not travel' notice issued.
According to reports, show bosses decided the 'cosy show' was inappropriate for the location given the heightened security and recent attack. The one-hour special, which last year was filmed at St Pancras, was set to feature Winkleman, Mika, and co-star Jon Baptiste welcoming a new batch of amateur musicians on the station concourse.
Meanwhile, Drama Unfolds on The Traitors
While celebrating her birthday, Winkleman remains on screens hosting the current run of The Traitors. The latest episode saw dramatic events as author Harriet Tyce was banished during Wednesday's roundtable.
Harriet, 53, who had recently been the favourite to win, was sensationally voted out by fellow contestants after deciding to take on Traitor Rachel Duffy. Using her skills as a former criminal barrister, Harriet presented her case, claiming Rachel had been 'in character' since the game began.
However, Rachel revealed a secret of her own—training from a former FBI agent—which swayed the group. Seeing the discussion turn against her, Harriet asked to be voted out to prove her status as a Faithful, which the players then did.
