Known as a British national treasure, Claudia Winkleman has been a constant in British television and radio for almost 35 years.
Most recently appearing on our screens as host of the BBC's hugely successful reality competition show The Traitors and earning a BAFTA in the process, Winkleman has enjoyed an illustrious career under the spotlight. So how did the born-and-bred Londoner climb to fame, and what is she working on next?
- Where is The Traitors UK filmed? Inside the magnificent castle setting
- Where is The Traitors US filmed? All the filming locations from the dramatic reality TV show
Who is Claudia Winkleman?
Claudia Winkleman is an English television, radio presenter and journalist. Best known for her decade-long stint presenting Strictly Come Dancing (2014-2025) alongside co-host Tess Daly. Winkleman has more recently hosted the hit BBC reality series The Traitors (2022-present) and music competition show, The Piano (2023).
Winkleman has enjoyed a long and illustrious career in British broadcasting since 1992 and was made an MBE by King Charles III in December 2025 for her services to broadcasting, which she says was: "an incredible morning and an enormous honour."
How old is Claudia Winkleman?
Claudia Anne Irena Winkleman is 54 years old and was born on 15 January 1972 in Westminster, London.
Who is Claudia Winkleman's husband?
Winkleman has been married to British/Danish film producer Kris Thykier since June 2000. Thykier is also 54 years old and was born two days before his future wife, on 13 January 1972.
Thykier is a film producer and executive who has received two BAFTA nominations and produced several critically acclaimed films. Notable works include Stardust (2007), Kick-Ass (2010), I Give it a Year (2013), Operation Mincemeat (2021) and MobLand (2025).
Together, Thykier and Winkleman have three children who are now in their early 20s and teens.
Why is Claudia Winkleman's fringe so famous?
Over the years, Winkleman's signature blunt fringe and dark bob have become synonymous with her television persona. The 'Winkleman fringe' is part of her recognisable on-screen style, even landing her a long-term haircare brand partnership with Head & Shoulders in 2016. She's also become an influential style icon due to her Traitors outfits and famous fingerless gloves.
Where did Claudia Winkleman grow up?
Winkleman was born and raised in Westminster to Jewish parents, former newspaper editor Eve Pollard and publisher Barry Winkleman.
After her parents' divorce when Winkleman was three, her father married children's author Cindy Black, and together they had Winkleman's half-sister Sophie, eight years her junior. Meanwhile, her mother married Nicholas Lloyd, and together they went on to have Winkleman's half-brother, Oliver.
Winkleman was educated at the City of London School for Girls and then King's College School in Wimbledon, before going on to read History of Art at Cambridge University, graduating with an MA Honours in 1993.
Where does Claudia Winkleman live?
Claudia Winkleman and her husband live in the City of Westminster, Central London, with their three children. The garden square is bordered by Georgian terraced townhouses and is located near Hyde Park and Marble Arch.
Claudia Winkleman's early career to international stardom
Claudia Winkleman started her career as a travel and entertainment show presenter with the BBC in the early 1990s, when she was in her early 20s. During this time, she was a reporter on This Morning and hosted game shows, including Three's a Crowd, God's Gift, and Fanorama.
It wasn't until the early 2000s that Winkleman began to land bigger roles, such as her first daily television slot hosting Liquid News for BBC Three.
Winkleman began hosting Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, a companion weekday show to Strictly Come Dancing, from its inception in 2004 until 2010. While in 2014, Winkleman graduated to become the main co-host on the Strictly Saturday night show alongside Tess Daly, replacing Bruce Forsyth as co-host.
Meanwhile, Winkleman took on a few regular presenting slots, most notably BBC Two's The Great British Sewing Bee (2013-2016) and a regular Sunday evening radio show on BBC Radio 2 (2016-2023).
Winkleman co-hosted Strictly for 12 seasons (2014-2025), finally hanging up her hat with Daly at the end of 2025. The show well and truly catapulted Winkleman onto the international stage, and she became known for her unique look, warm charm and wit.
A testament to her successful career, Winkleman has been recognised repeatedly for her television work, receiving multiple BAFTA nominations for Entertainment Performance, with her sole win to date being the 2023 Best Entertainment Performance BAFTA as host of The Traitors. In her acceptance speech, Winkleman joked: “I can’t get emotional because I’m wearing so much eyeliner,” before thanking everyone and famously asking her husband for a dog.
What is Claudia Winkleman working on now?
Winkleman is set to present her own chat show, titled The Claudia Winkleman Show, on BBC One in spring 2026. "I can't quite believe it and I'm incredibly grateful to the BBC for this amazing opportunity," Winkleman said. "I'm obviously going to be awful, that goes without saying, but I'm over the moon they're letting me try."
Winkleman has also just been announced as presenter for this year's Crufts Royal Kennel Club dog show, set to take place 5-8 March 2026 at Birmingham's NEC. With a life-long love of dogs, Winkelman is well placed to join the show as a host and in early 2025, welcomed a Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Skip into the family. In a recent Instagram post, she shares: "There are no words to describe my excitement...Crufts 2026. I have treats, a perfume that smells of ham and my dog voice. See you in March".
Top image: Claudia Winkleman attends the "Is This Thing On?" Headline Gala at the 69th BFI London Film Festival at The Royal Festival Hall on October 14, 2025 in London, England. Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images.
