Claudia Winkleman Admits Strictly’s Spark Faded Before Her Exit
Key Points
- Claudia says Strictly lost its excitement, prompting her and Tess Daly to quit after thirteen years.
- She feared her TV career was finished before taking a risk hosting The Traitors.
- The show then suffered major pro departures, with Shirley Ballas hinting at stepping back for US spin-off.
CLAUDIA Winkleman has revealed the glitz and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing had started to wear off for her and co-host Tess Daly before they both quit last year.
The BBC presenter, 54, who spent 13 years on the show alongside Tess, 57, said it felt like the right time to step away as the excitement faded.
Asked if the sparkle had dimmed, Claudia said: “It’s not that I wasn’t excited at the end, but both of us were a bit like, ‘Oh yeah cool. All right, so then I do that.'”
She also opened up about fearing her TV career was finished when she was offered the hosting role on The Traitors.
“Traitors was not supposed to be what it was. I remember phoning my husband and saying, ‘I think it’s over’,” she admitted.
“They sent me the Dutch version to watch and I was told to take a risk. I am incredibly lucky.”
Strictly has since seen a major shake-up with several professional dancers leaving, including Karen Hauer and Gorka Márquez, in what fans have called a “bloodbath”.
Meanwhile, head judge Shirley Ballas hinted she might also be stepping away to focus on family and will front a US spin-off, Dancing With The Stars: The Next Pro.
Claudia’s departure marked the end of an era, but her candid reflections show she’s embracing new challenges beyond the ballroom.
