Trinny Woodall has said she is in talks to revive the hit makeover show What Not to Wear. The BBC series was a ratings success in the 2000s, with millions watching fashion gurus Trinny and Susannah Constantine ambush women nominated by friends for a fashion intervention.
Brutal honesty and Bafta nods
Trinny and Susannah were known for brutally honest style tips and a tendency to grab breasts, earning the show two Bafta nominations and a cameo on Doctor Who before it ended in 2005.
In the years since, What Not to Wear has faced accusations of body-shaming, with resurfaced clips showing women reduced to tears by comments from the co-hosts, including judgments about 'chicken wing arms' and 'thunder thighs'.
Talks and reappraisal
Trinny referenced that reappraisal on Lorraine Kelly's podcast, admitting: 'We were, interestingly, recently asked to do it again. It's an interesting conversation, because it's a conversation that's slightly still happening.'
The 62-year-old explained that when she and Susannah were first approached, she thought 'no way' because the pair are busy with other projects. Speaking on the Experience is Everything podcast, she continued: 'But it was very nice, the people who came to see us, so then we just had a meeting with them. They had made the whole of their younger team watch all of the old What Not to Wears and they loved it. I was surprised because there's a real Y2K kind of, "How can you…?" We did things that were very extreme. We'd go and get a husband saying, "Yes, do put a camera in my wife's dressing room so we can see how she dresses".'
Reactions and past comments
Kelly described the show as 'very honest', noting such frank comments are rarer today because people are 'frightened of offending'. Trinny then quipped: 'Apart from Jeremy Clarkson. But he's not on the BBC.' The former Grand Tour star appeared on What Not to Wear in 2002 and clashed with the hosts, who he labelled 'sweet bullies'.
Trinny did not reveal which broadcaster or production company she and Susannah are in talks with, but said they have been 'very persuasive' and are exploring ways filming could be integrated into their lives.
Susannah had previously ruled out a reboot, telling the Radio Times in 2022: 'It was of its time and came along at the right moment, but it wouldn't work today and I can understand why. People are fed up of being told what to do.' In 2024, the former co-hosts' daughters told Tatler their mums would be cancelled if the show were made today. Woodall's daughter Lyla Elichaoff told the publication: 'You can't really speak to people like that any more, and say things like, "You're so ugly".'
Metro contacted the BBC and Trinny Woodall for further comment.
