Claudia Winkleman reveals reason why she initially turned down presenting The Traitors
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It is a show that has gone on to become a massive hit with competitors battling to win by betraying each other. But now, host Claudia Winkleman has revealed she initially turned down presenting The Traitors - because she didn’t want to spend more than three weeks filming in Scotland.
![[The presenter has her work cut out juggling home life with her many presenting roles]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/23/93288679-14207189-The_presenter_has_her_work_cut_out_juggling_home_life_with_her_m-a-25_1734565525356.jpg)
The 52-year-old won her first BAFTA in 2023 for hosting the iconic gameshow but said she very nearly rejected the job completely. The star was offered the job but turned it down because she didn’t want to be away from her family. But, after watching the original Dutch version, Winkleman became ‘obsessed’ and quickly fired off an email to BBC bosses changing her mind.
![[Winkleman, 52, rocked The Traitors merchandise as she attended the launch event of series three at the Electric Cinema in London on Monday]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/00/93199411-14207189-Claudia_Winkleman_52_rocked_The_Traitors_merchandise_as_she_atte-a-26_1734566516918.jpg)
Winkleman, who also presents Strictly Come Dancing, told The Midpoint podcast: ‘The Traitors is something I initially turned down because I didn’t like leaving my bed or the kids and they were like “would you go to Scotland for three and a half weeks?”.
![[Winkleman takes up her role on The Traitors when it returns on New Year’s Day]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/23/93288681-14207189-Winkleman_takes_up_her_role_on_The_Traitors_when_it_returns_on_N-a-24_1734565525353.jpg)
‘And I was like “I don’t think so” and then I watched the Dutch version and I became so obsessed. ‘I sent an email to Kate Phillips who offered me the job, who works at the BBC, saying “I’ve booked a train, I want to do this more than anything” because it is a privilege to watch the psychology and gameplay up close.’.
![[The BBC have yet to confirm the line-up of Traitors and Faithfuls for the 2025 series, but the newcomers will have big shoes to fill following iconic characters from last series including secret mum Diane Carson, villain Paul Gorton and of course eventual winner Harry Clarke]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/00/92619399-14207189-The_BBC_have_yet_to_confirm_the_line_up_of_Traitors_and_Faithful-a-27_1734566570751.jpg)
Claudia Winkleman was concerned that the filming schedule in Scotland would mean she would end up spending too much time away from her family. The presenter has her work cut out juggling home life with her many presenting roles. Winkleman, 52, rocked The Traitors merchandise as she attended the launch event of series three at the Electric Cinema in London on Monday.
