Claudia Winkleman believes BBC bosses feared she was “absolutely useless” after she made a huge Strictly Come Dancing mistake.
The presenter says producers use code names when discussing the contestants to avoid the line-up being leaked. Once officially announced, she says they can “really start getting excited”.
But in 2006, when she was presenter of companion show It Takes Two, Claudia recalls being given a list of contestants and a brief bio about them. It was shortly after, when approached by a colleague, Claudia accidentally revealed the entire line-up, reports Lancs Live.
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Writing in her memoir Quite, Claudia said: “I was eager and ready to do my research (when I say ‘research’, I mean watch EastEnders for hours, getting on Wikipedia while holding a pen), and on leaving the BBC I jumped in a lift. Someone (friendly, smiley, rucksack) asked if I knew who was going to be in the cast.”
“I rattled off the list and the next day he told everyone on his floor (not his fault, mine) and they decided that I was absolutely useless at keeping a secret. I’m pretty sure they now tell Tess (Daly) weeks before me. I’m like a toddler with a dicky tummy – not good at keeping anything in.”
In a bid to keep the identity of the celebrities hidden, Claudia says code names have included things like cartoon characters. She says there would be “excellent conversations” about whether “Daffy Duck or Cinderella would dance first”.
Claudia, who celebrates her 53rd birthday today, presented It Takes Two between 2004 and 2010. She then took over hosting the main show alongside co-star Tess Daly after the late Sir Bruce Forsyth retired.
Strictly’s 22nd series wrapped up last month with comedian Chris McCausland lifting the famous Glitterball Trophy. And while the show is watched by millions of people each week, Claudia says it’s not something the crew take for granted.
“That would be stupid, arrogant, and deeply uncool,” she writes. Instead the star says there is an air of “anticipation” as audiences wait for celebs to take to the dancefloor for the first time.
As well as presenting Strictly, Claudia fronts The Traitors on the BBC and Channel 4’s The Piano. The Traitors currently airs on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on BBC One.