Claudia Winkleman has revealed that she initially turned down The Traitors before a sudden change of heart, and also spoke about her regret over agreeing to front her own chat show.
The host, who has presented The Traitors and its celebrity spin-off for four years, said her first instinct was to say no because the role would mean too much time away from her family. However, after watching the Dutch version of the show, she quickly emailed the BBC to say she wanted to do it more than anything.
A Change of Heart After Watching the Dutch Version
Speaking to Gabby Logan on her podcast The Mid Point, Winkleman explained her initial hesitation. She said: “The Traitors is something that I initially turned down, because you know I don’t like leaving my bed or the kids, and 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. I became so obsessed, I sent an email to Kate Phillips saying I want to do this more than anything.”
She told Harper’s Bazaar Magazine that a BBC executive had asked her again and pleaded with her to watch the Dutch series before she gave a firm no. “I'm always in bed at 9pm with my book, but I started watching, and at midnight, I sent her a text saying, 'I'll buy my own ticket',” she said.
Regret Over the Claudia Winkleman Show
Winkleman also spoke about her decision to say yes to the BBC when they proposed the Claudia Winkleman Show. She quit after one series, saying she was “too nervous to enjoy it.” The premiere episode in March 2026 brought in 1.5 million overnight viewers, and during the run she interviewed guests including Jennifer Saunders, Dan Levy and Jeff Goldblum.
“Argh! The BBC wanted me to give it a go. Maybe, I thought, let's try something different? But never again,” she added. “That's it. It wasn't for me. I didn't enjoy it, I didn't like having my name on it, it's not what I'm good at. I need a format – it can't just be me. They said, 'OK, if that's your decision, but we'd like you to try again', and I was like, no. Once was enough.”
She concluded: “It's brilliant to give something a go, and it's brilliant to fail.”
