Claudia Winkleman hosted the first series of BBC gameshow The Traitors but sheâs revealed that she originally declined to present the series.
The Strictly Come Dancing presenter will return to hosting duties for the second series in January with 22 contestants battling it out at a Scottish castle in the psychological game show that gripped viewers last year.
In the first trailer for season two, Winkleman promised an âultimate game of treachery for a life-changing cash prizeâ.
Last year the 51- year-old won the Bafta for best entertainment performance while the show won best reality and constructed factual programme.
Are you as excited as we are? đ
â The Traitors UK (@TheTraitorsUK) December 5, 2023
January 3rd 2024. Mark those calendars!#TheTraitorsUK https://t.co/lazsvgzjHo
Why did Claudia Winkleman originally say no to hosting The Traitors?
Claudia Winkleman originally said no to hosting the show so she could prioritise her family life.
âI wasnât keen on leaving home for three weeks, so initially I said, âI donât think so, but thank youâ,â Winkleman told the Radio Times.
âThey then sent me the original Dutch version. I watched the first four episodes in one sitting, told the kids to make their own tea and then begged the BBC to let me be part of it.
âIâm used to being a cheerleader and a helper, so it felt very odd being so cold. By the end I couldnât help but show how much I cared about them, but at the beginning, yes, it was deeply weird.
âThe producers had to really persuade me to send two people home as soon as they arrived. I couldnât really cope with it, but they said, âThis sets the tone, donât be wetâ. So off they went.â
How to watch The Traitors series two
During the first series, players were made secret traitors and were tasked with âmurderingâ faithful contestants, while the latter had to root out the traitors and âbanishâ them.
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Five finalists were reduced to the last three who split the ÂŁ100,000 prize between them.
The new series will be available to watch on Wednesday, January 3 on BBC One at 9pm.
It will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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