Claudia Winkleman was left “appalled” when her husband Kris Thykier and their children flouted one of her cardinal household rules. The 52 year old television presenter disclosed that despite her leading roles in major shows like BBC reality show Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors, her family – Jake, 21, Matilda, 18, and Arthur, 13 – had never watched any of her programmes.
But, as Claudia revealed to Grazia, they “broke rank” last year and tuned into The Traitors, the suspense-filled game show that had audiences on edge as participants tried to identify the ‘Traitors’ among them or face ‘death’. The gripping finale of the previous series attracted over eight million viewers, witnessing ‘Traitor’ Harry Clark win the £95,150 prize pot.
The popular series made its comeback on New Year’s Day this year.
Speaking about her strict TV policy at home, Claudia shared with Grazia: “They have not watched me. They’re not allowed.”
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
She added: “Nobody watches anything I do in my house, under strict instructions. Although they broke rank and watched The Traitors and I was appalled,” reports Bristol Live.
Despite the success of The Traitors, Claudia confessed she initially had reservations about how the programme would be received, but she joined the crew in Scotland and “gave it our best shot”.
Claudia speaks on the popularity of The Traitors, with her saying the psychological aspect of viewing contestants deduce lies is what captivates the audience. According to Claudia, the “dynamics are addictive”, and she confesses to being “completely obsessed” with it.
Claudia Winkleman on the set of series three of BBC1’s The Traitors
(Image: Cody Burridge/BBC/PA Wire)
Although Claudia appears rather impassive on-air, she discloses that as episodes advance, she forms bonds with the participants, leading some to affectionately refer to her as “Aunt Claude” or “Mummy”. One banishment this season tugged at her heartstrings.
She recalls, “You don’t see it, thank God, but I really cried when somebody was banished this year,” revealing that her reaction was quite powerful. “I properly cried – it was probably a bit unhealthy. Two of the contestants came out and the three of us were just crying together.”
Catch The Traitors weekly, on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.