Truth behind Claudia Winkleman's fame revealed in new documentary

Truth behind Claudia Winkleman's fame revealed in new documentary
Source: Daily Mail Online

A new documentary will explore The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman's rise to fame in the TV business.

Titled Beyond the Fringe, the upcoming Channel 5 documentary is diving into Claudia's, 53, 'utterly unique' fame.

It will reportedly feature appearances from Shirley Ballas, Angela Rippon, Janet Street-Porter and The Traitors fan favourite Diane Carson.

Executive producer Emma Clarke said: 'This documentary allows us to look beyond the fringe and explore not just her incredible career, but the personality and values that have made her such a defining figure in British television.
'We want this to feel like the ultimate tribute from her many fans, collaborators and friends.'

Meanwhile, commissioning editor Greg Barnett has also showered praise onto Claudia.

An upcoming Channel 5 documentary - titled Beyond The Fringe - is set to focus on Claudia Winkleman's rise to fame

Claudia and Strictly co-star Tess Daly bid an emotional farewell to the show in its 2025 Christmas special - having announced their joint exit earlier in the year

Claudia began presenting The Traitors in 2022 - with the show becoming a smash hit comprising four series and a celebrity edition to date

He told The Sun: 'Claudia Winkleman is quite simply one of the most important broadcasters of her generation.
'She has an extraordinary ability to connect with audiences in a way that feels both completely natural and utterly unique.'

In 2025, Claudia and Strictly co-star Tess Daly announced in a statement that they were to leave their long-time presenting roles.

Claudia started out presenting spin-off It Takes Two, before joining Tess, 56, on the main show from 2014 onwards.

The pair said in a statement at the time: 'We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream.
'We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time.
'We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show.
'They're the most brilliant team and we'll miss them every day.

The much-loved presenter proved that she's queen of the castle as she smouldered in tartan trousers and a chic hooded coat ahead of this week's new episodes

The telly favourite then posed outside the castle with the same look, but added a white duffle coat

'We will cry when we say the last 'keep dancing' but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.'

Sarah James, the executive producer of Strictly Come Dancing, also paid a glowing tribute to the co-hosts.

She said: 'Tess and Claudia are quite simply the best duo of presenters in the business and we are so lucky to have had them as our Strictly anchors for so many years.
'They have championed countless celebrities on the dancefloor, led us all through two series during the pandemic but more importantly they have a deep and genuine bond with the show and every single member of the team.
'The Strictly Family is often referred to and these women are the matriarchs of that family.'

They bowed out of the ballroom for good following series 23 and the 2025 Christmas special.

In 2022, Claudia began presenting The Traitors - which proved to be a smash hit with four series to date.

A celebrity edition aired in late 2025 - with comedian Alan Carr tricking the other famous faces to win as a Traitor.

In spring, Claudia will launch a whole new venture with chat show The Claudia Winkleman Show on BBC One.

This will see her interview some of 'the biggest names from the worlds of film, television, music and beyond' with a live audience.

The programme will be produced by the production company behind The Graham Norton Show.

Speaking about her new gig, Claudia said: 'I can't quite believe it and I'm incredibly grateful to the BBC for this amazing opportunity.'
'I'm obviously going to be awful, that goes without saying, but I'm over the moon they're letting me try.'

Head of Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC, Kalpna Patel-Knight, said: 'Claudia is a true national treasure - warm, witty and endlessly entertaining.'

'She has an extraordinary ability to put people at ease and bring out the very best in them, whether they're global superstars or members of the audience.'

'It's very exciting that she will be fronting her very own show on the BBC, and we can't wait for viewers to join Claudia and her sofa full of stars.'

In addition, she has also hosted series including The Piano and One Question for Channel 4.