Claudia Winkleman shares rude advice Strictly boss gave her before new role

02 September 2023 , 08:28

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Claudia Winkleman shares rude advice Strictly boss gave her before new role

Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia Winkleman has shared the three words of advice a producer gave her before every show.

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival this week, the 51-year-old mused upon the valuable life lessons she’s picked up during her time in the industry. Her career began in the early 1990s when she presented segments on BBC travel show, Holiday.

Claudia said: “My parents told me basically, ‘You just have to work incredibly hard and don’t be a turd’. And one of my old producers on Strictly: It Takes Two used to say two things in my earpiece before we started filming — ‘Don’t be sh**. It’s only telly’. And I always try.”

Claudia also dismissed claims that she is one of the hardest working women in broadcasting. She said: "All I do is paint myself orange and read from an autocue."

Claudia with her Strictly co-presenter Tess Daly (BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Claudia and her husband Kris Thykier pictured in 2018 (David Fisher/BAFTA/REX/Shutterstock)

She also presents BBC reality whodunnit The Traitors, and Channel 4's artsy BGT-style show, The Piano, which pits the UK's best amateur ivory tinklers against one another for a chance to perform at the Royal Festival Hall.

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She was given the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Edinburgh TV Festival just last week, but heaped the praise on the shows she works on rather than her own talent. She said: “The Traitors and Strictly and The Piano are so strong anybody could host them. We all know it. But I’m lucky enough that I’m there. That is the truth. It doesn’t mean I’m not unbelievably grateful, but it’s just as luck would have it I’ve fallen into them.”

Away from the cameras, Claudia is mum to Jake, 21, Matilda, 17, and 12-year-old Arthur, with film producer Kris Thykier. However, her eldest hasn't always enjoyed his mum's association with the hit dancing show. She said: “He said to me, ‘Mum, you have got to stop doing Strictly, it’s so embarrassing and my teacher has mentioned it’. I just went ‘See those trainers, Jake?’ He was like ‘OK, sorry’.”

With so many years of Strictly in all its forms under her belt, Claudia has her own theories about the infamous 'Strictly Curse'. She told The Sun: "I understand [the pressure], it's very intense. I don't believe in the curse, but I think lots of people have come in single and they might have met somebody or had a little romance. It's intoxicating, Strictly, because you're all part of this extraordinary juggernaut. So I don't think people fall in love with people, they might just love the experience."

The new series kicks off in just two weeks, and features Zara McDermott, Bobby Brazier, and Les Dennis vying for the Glitterball Trophy.

Emma Gritt