Claudia Winkleman is famous for many things: being the host of Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors (which is coming back for series two, btw), and THAT FRINGE being the top three.
The iconic fringe has been with her for as long as we can remember and frankly, it's been one of the highlights of Strictly 2023.
It’s helped sell truckloads of shampoo and has been the subject of social media fascination (and memes) for years and tbh, we're somehow still obsessed – especially at this time of year, when she returns to Strictly as our ultimate screen queen. We just couldn’t imagine her without it, so naturally, these old-school pictures of her without one came as somewhat of a shock to the system to us.
Davina McCall, is that you?
Claudia's eyebrows, it's nice to meet you.
But why has she been sporting her trademark fringe for so long? Why is she SUCH an absolute TV legend? We decided to investigate and answer some of our own burning questions about the most famous hairdo in the biz and the woman that rocks it. ROCKS IT we say.
Why does Claudia Winkleman always have a fringe?
Claudia – who recently announced that she will be stepping down from her Saturday Radio 2 show in 2024 (possibly because fans can't see her fringe via that gig) – says that she’s always had a fringe and she “just loves” having one.
She said, “I think my fringe starts at the back of my head, it’s got more weight to it than a tonne of bricks. They gave it to me and I knew that was that. You have to make much less effort when you have a really heavy fringe. I love eyeliner, but you don’t even need makeup really. If you’ve got a very heavy fringe, you’re wearing some old, battered, buckled-up boots and you’re holding a book then you’re done. You look like a real-life pirate.
“It also makes you look put together from the get go. Even if I'm wearing what I slept in (an oversized disgusting T-shirt and an ancient pair of my teenage daughter’s leggings) if you’ve got a fringe you’re pretty much sorted. You’ve done half the work, you’ve got attitude. I just love a fringe.”
Last year she joked, "I was born with six extra teeth like a little dinosaur," she said. "When people saw me smile they screamed. But when I was 21 and a virgin, I got my fringe and everything started happening."
What made Claudia Winkleman famous?
Claudia is most well known for Strictly, which she began co-hosting alongside Tess Daly full-time after the departure of Bruce Forsyth in 2014. Claudia was actually already a part of the Strictly family at that point; she was already presenting the main results show on a Sunday and was formerly presenting It Takes Two (since it began in 2004).
Before her stint in the ballroom, she starred in numerous shows. One of the biggest highlights of her early career was interviewing celebrities on This Morning. She also hosted various gameshows in the 90s, including God’s Gift and Talking Telephone Numbers.
in 2001, she landed a major presenting gig when she hosted Central Weekend.
How much does Claudia Winkleman get paid for Strictly?
According to The Sun, both she and Tess get paid a six-figure sum of £150,000 each per series. To say we’re a tad envious would be an understatement.
Are Claudia Winkleman and Sophie Winkleman related?
Yes, they are half-sisters. Sophie is Claudia’s dad's daughter from his second marriage. Sophie herself has a successful career. She has appeared in shows like Peep Show and This is Going to Hurt.
How tall is Claudia Winkleman?
Claudia is 5’4.
How old is Claudia Winkleman?
She is 51. She was born on 15 January 1972.
Who is Claudia Winkleman married to?
She has been married to her husband Kris Thykier since 2000. They have three children together.
Does Claudia Winkleman have Instagram?
She does. Her username is @claudiawinkle.