Claudia Winkleman is satisfied she gave the ick to Mika and Lang Lang, her co-stars on Channel 4 hit The Piano. “They’re so alarmed by my consuming habits,” she says. “My mic’s at all times on and all they’ll hear is me munching beef-flavoured Hula Hoops.” For instance the purpose, she launches into an uncanny impression of loud crisp-crunching noises echoing down a lapel mic.
Winkleman lately wrapped filming a brand new run of the ivory-tinkling expertise search, which has meant dwelling off prepare station meals. “I search for every one’s eateries prematurely,” she admits. “I am keen on a Greggs and I’ve fallen in love with Higher Crust. They do a cheddar baguette that’s virtually erotic. Clearly, I at all times have a Burger King. A Homicide King, I name it. You realize you’re in a special class of station if there’s a Leon. In Liverpool, they’ve bought Krispy Kreme. I crashed and burned by 9.48am as a result of I made the error of scoffing a tray of Authentic Glazed for breakfast. I used to be like: ‘Guys, I would like a nap.’ The producer went: ‘Can any person get Claud a espresso? And no extra sugar!’ OK, boss, truthful sufficient.”
Initially pitched as “a present about expertise however not a expertise present”, The Piano tapped into the road piano phenomenon by inviting undiscovered amateurs to publicly carry out at mainline stations across the UK. The consequence was a life-affirming smash. Now it’s again – and no person is extra shocked than its host.
“I assumed it was a one-series deal as a result of Mika and Lang Lang have been hiding – no person knew they have been secretly being watched by these two maestros,” says Winkleman. “However we realised the magic wasn’t the large reveals, it was the tales. Response to the primary collection completely took us abruptly. My mum [journalist Eve Pollard] would telephone me crying after every episode. She says it makes her really feel higher and fuller. It made buddies of mine vow to be taught an instrument, even when it’s the triangle. The massive change this time is that the live performance finale goes to be ticketed, with all of the proceeds going in the direction of shopping for pianos for prepare stations and hospital receptions. It’s the loveliest factor.”
The Piano is proof of the instrument’s therapeutic powers. “Folks get by means of robust occasions by enjoying piano,” says Winkleman. “At Manchester Piccadilly, we met an 80-year-old man with dementia who performed a fantastic unique composition for his spouse. Their love story is tremendously transferring. An excellent man at Victoria Station informed me: ‘I can’t say how I really feel – however I can play it.’ A tremendous girl had simply retired after many years working within the NHS and spent her pension on a grand piano as a result of it’s what she wanted in her life. It didn’t even slot in her home. Her husband needed to knock down partitions.” Is she ever tempted to hitch in? “Completely not. I’m so unmusical, I as soon as sang to Mika and Lang Lang they usually made me signal a piece of paper promising I’d by no means do it once more.”
The debut run was received by blind, neurodivergent teenager Lucy Illingworth, who stole the nation’s hearts together with her virtuoso means. The scene when she shocked Leeds station by enjoying Chopin was Bafta-nominated. Is there a comparable discovery within the new collection? “Lucy was one in a gazillion,” says Winkleman. “You can by no means recreate that however there are extra moments that took our breath away. One unbelievable boy in Liverpool introduced Lime Road to a standstill. A crowd of 700 gathered. Folks missed their trains. There are particular occasions when any person performs and the entire ambiance on the concourse adjustments.” She pauses and provides delightedly: “I’ve by no means used the phrase concourse in dialog earlier than! Love that.”
As presenter of three of the best-loved exhibits on primetime – The Piano becoming a member of The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing in her enviable portfolio – is Winkleman on a sizzling streak? “Let’s not even talk about that as a result of I’m very superstitious,” she says. “Now you’ve stated it, I’m going to must knock on wooden, pull my ear and pinch my abdomen. Any success has nothing to do with me.” Come on, it’s bought one thing to do with you. “No, genuinely completely nothing. I don’t say that in a fake self-deprecating method. The exhibits are wonderful. The individuals who work on them are geniuses. I imply, I flip up on time. In any other case I’m extremely fortunate.”
Does she consciously play a special function on every? “Hopefully I’m nonetheless me on all of them. On The Piano, my solely job is to speak and make the pianists really feel comfy sufficient to showcase their expertise. On Strictly, I’m a cheerleader for the dancers, handing spherical sweets and saying: ‘The scores are in.’ And on The Traitors, I scare myself. I’m chilly and aloof, however a number of that’s as a result of I’m fearful of blowing secrets and techniques. I can’t chat an excessive amount of to the gamers or I’ll inform them every part.”
The Traitors grew to become a bona fide nationwide obsession in January. What have been her highlights? “So many! I beloved Paul’s bow. He did it superbly. That Spherical Desk the place the Trustworthy discovered him out was electrical. They celebrated so wildly, chairs have been thrown. Me and the crew got here out bodily shaking. And the ultimate was so tense I couldn’t watch. I needed to maintain trying down.”
How concerning the gloriously camp funeral for Diane, poisoned by a chalice of glowing rosé? “All I requested for was a veil. I used to be like: ‘Guys, I have to go to John Lewis.’ And when Ross [secretly her son] laid a rose on Diane – extraordinary.” I point out the flourish with which Winkleman closed the coffin lid. “I don’t know what comes over me. Up within the lovely Scottish Highlands, not going residence at night time, nothing breaks the seal. I’m trapped within the snow globe of Traitors World. My youngsters, who’re the love of my life, telephone me and I’m like: ‘Can’t discuss now, I’m going into the conclave.’ It reaches the stage the place I critically ask for an owl. I get misplaced in it.” A speaking level got here when she referred to as out the Traitors for repeatedly recruiting males. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have completed however I simply needed to say it. I used to be like: ‘Come on, boys, what you want here’s a actually sensible girl,’ however they have been threatened by them.”
The castle-based franchise has entered the cultural dialog to the extent that the final two Comedian Reduction telethons have featured Traitors spoofs, with Suranne Jones and Daybreak French enjoying Winkleman. “Each have been totally sensible,” she cackles. “I want I regarded like Suranne, and Daybreak was my teenage hero. I nonetheless can’t consider she wore my fringe and opened it like a curtain.”
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Who ought to play her subsequent time? “Alice Cooper, my type guru. Or Noel Fielding. Usually individuals mistake me for Noel. It’s the largest praise.” Rumours are rife of a Celeb Traitors spin-off however Winkleman is tight-lipped. “I can’t say a lot however I belief the BBC and [production company] Studio Lambert fully. I’ll do no matter they need.” Theoretically, who could be her dream contestants? “Lenny Henry, Danny Dyer and Alison Hammond. I’d additionally love Victoria Coren Mitchell, who’s my greatest buddy, although I wouldn’t have the ability to inform her something.”
Winkleman’s lady-of-the-manor wardrobe grew to become a trending subject. “Hilarious. I’m only a 52-year-old girl who likes knitwear and tweed. The garments are borrowed however I do kiss them earlier than I ship them again. Though not with lipstick on, I’d prefer to reassure the designers.” After which there’s that trademark fringe. “I’ve it additional weighty for The Traitors, so I can cover behind it,” she says. It’s teamed with “sufficient orange make-up to sink a ship”.
Does Winkleman fear about overexposure? “Sure, which is why you received’t see me do anything. Nothing new, thanks very a lot.” Certainly, she lately stepped down from her fourth gig, internet hosting the Saturday mid-morning present on Radio 2. “I beloved that job however I wished my Saturdays again earlier than the youngsters get too outdated [she has three children, aged 12 to 21]. They discover me fairly annoying already however I’ll comply with them round, sit on their laps and make them hang around.” Is it true what radio colleague Dermot O’Leary stated in his farewell message about her sailor’s mouth? “Afraid so. I can’t gown it up for you. I respect nothing greater than a very good swear.”
She’s modest to a fault and fast to bat away compliments. “I’m allergic to reward,” she says. “I believe it’s each a feminine factor and an age factor. I completely love telly. With out sounding like a complete turd, it’s a privilege, so I don’t imply this in a foul method nevertheless it’s solely work. If you happen to got here to my home and I made you my cheese and onion quiche – my mum’s recipe, by the best way – or a roast rooster with my crushed potatoes, and also you praised these, I’d go all gooey. If you happen to stated: ‘Your child’s well-behaved,’ I’d beam. Work is completely different in some way. I’m an enormous believer in imposter syndrome. I strive to not enjoy successes as a result of it’ll go,” she snaps her fingers, “like that. I’ll blink and another person may have my job. That’s advantageous. It’s the best way of the world. When the time comes, I’ll say: ‘Byesy-bye, guys.’”
The Piano returns to Channel 4 at 9pm on 28 April.
