Claudia Winkleman has revealed that she turned down the offer to host The Traitors when producers first approached her for the role.
The 54-year-old presenter has gone on to front four series of the acclaimed BBC reality gameshow alongside two celebrity editions. However, she initially turned down the job until she was convinced to preview the original Dutch format, which immediately persuaded her to take part.
Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar, she said: "I’m always in bed at 9pm with my book, but I started watching, and at midnight, I sent her (an unnamed TV executive) a text saying, ‘I’ll buy my own ticket’."
The London-born star stepped away from Strictly Come Dancing, which she co-presented with Tess Daly, in 2025 before launching a BBC One chat show, The Claudia Winkleman Show, in December of that year. However, she made clear she has no desire to front a second series of the talk show.
She added: "The BBC wanted me to give it a go. Maybe, I thought, let’s try something different? But never again. 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."
The latest instalment of The Celebrity Traitors, which concluded last Friday, was marked by several memorable moments, including actor Richard E Grant accidentally disclosing he was a traitor moments after receiving his assignment.
Recalling the funny incident, Winkleman confessed she was so shocked she dropped her food: "I don’t know how to explain how much I love a baked potato.
"I dropped (it) right by the rail of clothes, which were all borrowed, so we had to send everything back slightly smelling of cheese."
Comedian James Acaster then went on to admit he was a traitor to his fellow celebrities in the penultimate episode, before the series was eventually won by faithful duo Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian Croft.
The complete interview with Winkleman features in the December/January edition of Harper’s Bazaar UK, available from 6 November.
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