It’s hard to imagine The Traitors UK with anyone other than Claudia Winkleman, but the BBC has shared that things could have been very different.
The Traitors debuted on BBC One in 2022 and quickly became a hit, breaking viewership records. The celebrity version proved especially popular, with the final episode attracting 11.1 million viewers.
The show is great to watch thanks to its exciting moments and dramatic twists, but Claudia Winkleman really elevates it. Her clever selection of ‘traitors,’ striking style, and confident hosting make it truly captivating.
According to Kate Phillips, the BBC’s Chief Content Officer, Claudia Winkleman wasn’t the original pick to host the show. They first considered Alan Cumming for the role.
On the ‘The Rest Is Entertainment’ podcast, producer Ben Phillips explained that Alan Cumming was first considered as a host because he had already committed to appearing in the American version of the show.
We considered Alan, a well-known Scottish actor, for the role. We did ask him, but unfortunately, he wasn’t available. He was already committed to filming in America and had another job scheduled that conflicted with our dates.
We started brainstorming other potential hosts, and Studio Lambert had some great suggestions. I immediately thought of Claudia, as I’d worked with her on Strictly Come Dancing. What makes Claudia so good on that show isn’t just her personality, it’s that she genuinely connects with people – she cares more about the contestants and their stories than the dancing itself.
Phillips said she called Winkleman, who was hesitant about filming outside her home, and offered to have the production company send her the Dutch version of the show so she could review it.
“She watched that and she was in straight away.”
You can watch the full interview below.
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2025-11-21 14:08