Fiona Hughes, who appeared on the BBC reality show The Traitors in 2026, has revealed that she was more starstruck by Claudia Winkleman's mother than by the presenter herself.
Hughes, 64, told the Daily Express that while she enjoyed working with Claudia, she couldn't resist bringing up Eve Pollard, one of the most influential women in British journalism.
Admiration for Eve Pollard
"It was lovely working with Claudia. She seems like a really nice lady. I adore her mother, Eve Pollard. I did actually say to Claudia I do adore you, but it's your mother," Fiona told the Daily Express.
Eve Pollard, known as the 'First Lady of Fleet Street,' built a career as an editor, broadcaster, author and campaigner, helping to reshape the media landscape and champion women's voices.
Fiona admitted she couldn't quite remember what Claudia said when she spoke of her mother, but quipped: "I think she was a bit taken aback!"
Inspiration for young women
The reality star said Eve was somebody she aspired to when she was young, describing her as a "large influence" in her life.
"I think young women need to aspire and look at these strong, positive women who go on and achieve greatness in a field that was so male dominated," Fiona said.
"I think her mother is an exceptional woman. She was the first editor in Fleet Street. That's a tough job for anybody. Being a female at that time and reaching that height within journalism is brilliant."
Secret Traitor experience
During her time on The Traitors, Fiona made history after becoming the first ever Secret Traitor. While she admitted to being "beyond excited" at being chosen for the role, she wasn't sure what was expected of her, other than to be "as treacherous as possible".
"When Claudia said you are the secret traitor, I had no idea why she chose me. It's intriguing, and on reflection, she's probably thinking, why on earth did I put that mad Welsh woman in charge of the red cape? But it was exhilarating," she said.
"I was completely unsure on how I was to work with that. I don't know whether it helped my game, because I think I became a bit of a cuckoo in the nest, or I felt that."
Unfortunately for Fiona, she found herself banished from the show in episode six, after fellow Traitor Rachel led the tense roundtable against her.
However, she was full of praise for her fellow contestants, highlighting how their teamwork played a crucial role in them winning the show.
"I felt a bit of a cuckoo in the nest because Rachel and Stephen were so close. They were so in tune," Fiona recalled. "It was absolutely spectacular to see the way that they worked together."
The star added: "I wasn't strategic enough. I should have given more thought to it, but I didn't, I just thought about having fun because I couldn't get over I was there and having these experiences. I just wanted to drink in everything."
She acknowledged that the cast was made up of people of different ages, backgrounds and career paths, yet they all managed to gel, which she believes is a key part of the show's success.
"I think that's the strength of the programme," Fiona remarked.
