Claudia Winkleman has disclosed she once feared a significant television opportunity would collapse, confessing she told her husband, “I think it’s over,” during a moment of uncertainty about the project. The presenter, best known for fronting Strictly Come Dancing alongside Tess Daly, said she had genuine concerns before accepting what would become one of the most successful programmes of her career.

Looking back on the decision, she told Closer: “Traitors was not supposed to be what it was. I remember phoning my husband and saying, ‘I think it’s over’,” before explaining that she had been encouraged to watch an international version and take a chance. That risk ultimately proved worthwhile. The UK version of The Traitors, which debuted in 2022, quickly became a phenomenon and has since enjoyed multiple successful series, alongside a celebrity spin-off. The programme has played a major role in cementing Winkleman’s standing as one of the UK’s most recognisable television personalities.

Despite her success, she admitted the experience still leaves her feeling uneasy in an unusual way, saying: “It makes me want to scratch myself, but in a weird way. I am incredibly lucky.”

Away from the competition format, Winkleman has continued to broaden her professional work. She recently hosted her own chat show, The Claudia Winkleman Show, on BBC One. While the programme marked a notable milestone, she acknowledged it received a mixed reception and described the role as “nerve-wracking” and something she initially “didn’t like.”

Despite her prominence on British television, Winkleman remains reluctant to embrace celebrity status. She said: “I don’t think I’m famous. I take the Tube everywhere and I don’t go around singing the Strictly theme tune. I think it is a state of mind.”

Away from the spotlight, she shares her life with husband Kris Thykier and their three children: Jake, 23, Matilda, 19, and Arthur, 14. She said her family remain largely unaffected by her public profile, joking that while she has encouraged them to embrace “nepo baby” labels, none of them are interested in entering the entertainment industry.

Claudia and Tess spent 11 years presenting Strictly Come Dancing, establishing themselves as one of the most recognisable presenting partnerships in Saturday night television.

Winkleman also revealed how she and Daly plan to watch the latest series together. “Tess and I have already planned it,” she told Closer. “We’re having jacket potatoes and salmon. She’s coming to ours, she and [husband] Vern. I’m going to set her up with a nightie and we are going to watch and support.”