Claudia Winkleman has spoken out about the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia in the UK amid the Israel-Gaza war. The 51-year-old presenter, who is Jewish, said both forms of hatred feel as if they are increasing in her area of London.
In an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine to promote the new series of BBC One's The Traitors, Winkleman said: 'Definitely. But I also think about Islamophobia more than I used to as well. The truth is that it’s all horrendous. I can’t dress it up. Antisemitism and Islamophobia both feel as if they’re on the rise around where I live.'
Winkleman said she avoids discussing the topic on social media due to a lack of nuance, describing Twitter as 'like a bar fight'. She added: 'What happened to conversation?'
While Winkleman has never personally experienced antisemitism, she recalled how her grandparents kept a suitcase by their door in London in case they had to flee. The Metropolitan Police reported a 1,350 per cent increase in hate crimes against Jewish people since the Middle East crisis erupted, while charity Tell MAMA noted a 600 per cent rise in Islamophobic hate crimes since the Hamas attack on 7 October.
Winkleman was speaking ahead of the launch of The Traitors series two on 3 January. The show, which won her a Bafta, sees 22 contestants competing for up to £120,000.
