In a revelation that will shock fans of the hit psychological reality game, a senior BBC executive has disclosed that the beloved Claudia Winkleman was not the original choice to host the UK version of The Traitors.
The Alternative Host
Speaking on Richard Osman's The Rest is Entertainment podcast, the BBC's content boss Kate Phillips shared the surprising backstory. She explained that the production team initially looked to Alan Cumming, who was already signed to present the American edition of the show.
"We were looking at hosts," Phillips stated. "And Alan Cumming had been signed to do the American one, and I thought 'well Alan's known here'. And you know, he's a popular Scottish actor."
Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts prevented Cumming from taking the role, as the American production was going first and he had another job commitment that made him unavailable for the UK dates.
How Claudia Got The Role
With their first choice unavailable, the team had to reconsider. Phillips, who had previously worked with Winkleman on Strictly Come Dancing, had a moment of inspiration.
"I just thought of Claudia," she revealed. "The thing about Claudia on Strictly is she's brilliant on that show but she's brilliant because she's interested in the people more than the dancing."
Phillips made the call to her friend, describing Winkleman as "always open to new challenges." The rest, as they say, is television history, with Winkleman's performance becoming a defining element of the show's massive success.
Other Changes That Nearly Happened
The potential changes didn't stop with the host. Phillips also revealed that the show's now-iconic Scottish castle location was almost completely different.
The concept for the programme emerged during the pandemic, with BBC bosses wanting "a programme that brought audiences together." The format was originally created in the Netherlands.
Initially, producers planned to film the series in Costa Rica, but executives ultimately decided they wanted the show closer to home, leading to the selection of the Scottish castle that has become so familiar to viewers.
Phillips also discussed the success of Celebrity Traitors, noting that nobody anticipated rugby player Joe Marler would become such a crowd favourite. She confirmed that while winner Alan Carr needed persuasion to participate, Sir Stephen Fry was first in line to join.
Carr only agreed to appear on the condition that he wouldn't be made a traitor, a promise Phillips said she couldn't make. Despite his initial reluctance, she noted that Carr turned out to be "the best traitor of all," with his winning scenes being hailed by viewers as the television moment of the year.
