Claudia Winkleman has revealed she almost quit Strictly Come Dancing after the success of the first series of BBC show Traitors.
After being surprised at how popular the series was, she confided in her husband, film producer Kris Thykier, that she felt she was at the top of her game, so she should head out with a sense of pride.
She also tried to convince the producers of The Traitors to make just one series as she felt the success of the first one would not match.
Ms Winkleman, 51, who co-hosts the dance competition with Tess Daly, 54, said: “I was sitting on the train and I was talking to my husband and I just said, 'It's over but I've had a good run and that's why I'm. “should resign from Strictly and just go into hiding. '
Double appearance: Claudia Winkleman with Strictly Come Dancing co-host Tess Daly
Claudia Winkleman has revealed she almost quit Strictly Come Dancing after the success of the first series of BBC show Traitors
She has hosted Strictly since 2010, when the late Sir Bruce Forsyth stepped down from hosting the Sunday evening episode, having hosted the BBC Two spin-off show It Takes Two since its launch in 2004. She retired from the show in 2014. He died three years later at the age of 89.
The first episode of The Traitors attracted four million viewers in 2022, reaching an average viewership of 5.4 million on TV and iPlayer.
Speaking about a second series, Ms Winkleman said she told production bosses: “Let's just leave it alone.” This thing happened, this magical thing happened. Enough.
“The head of the BBC just leaned over to take my temperature.” Anyway, we went back but I'm nervous and weird about it. What happened never happens, it was alarming for all of us. “We just couldn’t believe it, so it felt like some kind of magical dust.”
When it was agreed that a second season would be produced, Ms Winkleman said she “didn't want people's expectations to get too high”. The presenter, who has three children, quit her Radio 2 show last month to spend more time with her family.
Comedian Romesh Ranganathan has been named as her successor when she leaves in March.
Claudia has hosted Strictly since 2010, when the late Sir Bruce Forsyth stepped down from hosting the Sunday night episode, having hosted the BBC Two spin-off show It Takes Two since its launch in 2004
The first episode of The Traitors attracted four million viewers in 2022, reaching an average viewership of 5.4 million on TV and iPlayer