Claudia Winkleman could quit Strictly to put her family first as she becomes the most in-demand woman in television

The Traitors frontwoman has won over a young audience on the BBC showBut bosses fear she may opt for more conveniently timed work instead of Strictly

It was a sliding doors moment if there ever was one.

For Claudia Winkleman, returning for a second series of Traitors was something she saw as a ‘bit of a risk.’

Not wanting ruin the magic of the first season in 2022, in what was a tense conversation, she left the BBC bereft when she delivered the bad news to BBC bosses: ‘Let’s leave it’ after being ‘winded and floored’ by the success of the first season.

Then, she says, they ‘had a word’ and also took her temperature and eventually talked her into it.

Today, friends of the star say that she simply cannot believe that it crossed her mind that she would not return to the Scottish castle where she is the cunning host of the show.

ITV insiders say that once they viewed Claudia Winkleman as ‘much more for the BBC’ but after winning over a young audience on The Traitors, there are some chiefs at the network who are keen to poach her, primarily for her to entice the very much in-demand 18-to-24 audience

Those close to her say that they ‘can’t quite fathom how this has happened and to think that Claudia initially didn’t want to do a second series of Traitors.’

Because, it has undoubtedly made her the most sought-after television star in the country – so much so that ITV are on the prowl to sign her up.

Television insiders say that once they viewed her as ‘much more for the BBC’ but after winning over a young audience on The Traitors, there are some chiefs at the network who are keen to poach her, primarily for her to entice the very much in-demand 18-to-24 audience.

One source at the channel told the Mail: ‘She was never really ITV-ish, perhaps she was seen as too unrelatable but this series of Traitors has changed that.

‘There are some at ITV who worry that they might have missed a trick early on with her so there is a determination to find her something, anything, some are saying.’

For Claudia though, her elevation from being one of many female television hosts to being ‘the one they all want’ has come at a tricky time for her.

Mindful that her children Jake, 20, Matilda, 17, and Arthur, ten, are growing up fast, she is determined to ‘get the balance right’ as a working mum which has prompted fears among some senior BBC executives that she might decide to step down from Strictly in favour of more conveniently timed work.

She began hosting the BBC One dance show in 2010 when the late Sir Bruce Forsyth stood down from hosting the Sunday night episode.

In a promotional interview for Traitors she admitted she might just quit, saying: ‘I was on a train and I spoke to my husband and I was just saying “It’s over, but I had a good run and that’s why I should resign from Strictly and just hide.”’

Claudia has already turned down an opportunity to host a Graham Norton-esque interview show after filming a pilot with the comic’s production company, So Television.

Claudia, pictured here with co-presenter Tess Daly, began hosting the BBC One dance show in 2010 when the late Sir Bruce Forsyth stood down from hosting the Sunday night episode

Indeed, it is not a secret that she is looking to scale down her work rather than look for more. Late last year she quit Radio 2 so she could spend more time being a mum and now there are fears that there could be more cutting down of her schedule.

One says: ‘Strictly signed Claudia when she was nowhere near as in demand as she is right now and the hours aren’t exactly convenient for her.

‘It takes up most of her Saturday and she doesn’t get home until way after midnight and when there are so many jobs that can be done within normal working hours. There are worries that soon, at some point, there will be a cross roads and she might decide to go.

‘That would be a tremendously sad day.’

Those close to Claudia say that she ‘absolutely loves the show’ and that she has no plans right now to quit.

Indeed, it is part of a pretty small workload. There is a new series of Traitors which she will film at some point later this year, her Channel 4 show The Piano – a search for Britain’s amateur pianists – and of course Strictly.

Money is no object for her. While she is said to ‘hate’ discussing her wealth, she is thought to be worth in the region of £9million. However, her husband, film producer and former PR guru Kris Thykier – the father of her three children – has his own wealth.

The family live in a Grade II-listed townhouse in Central London close to where Claudia grew up.

Today, her earnings are not declared because The Traitors is made by production company Studio Lambert which is paid directly by the BBC. Strictly, meanwhile, is produced by BBC Studios – the commercial arm of the broadcaster. However, it is estimate that she is paid around £400,000 for her work on the programme.

So what is it about Claudia that mean she isn’t just adored by her viewers but also by so many bosses in the industry?

One television executive said: ‘She is mainstream but also super cool at the same time. Super cool without trying to be super cool is how she is viewed by television executives’. Here the presenter is pictured with this year’s contestants on The Traitors

Someone who knows her well tells me: ‘Claudia is a consummate professional, always on time, always prepped, never any drama and always great fun to work with. Basically, there is just no faff, no faffing around, she just gets on with it.’

Indeed, she has been floating around the media world for more than two decades.

One television executive adds: ‘She is mainstream but also super cool at the same time. Super cool without trying to be super cool is how she is viewed by television executives.

‘She also knows how to play things just right, something many of her cohorts fail to get quite right.’

Claudia undoubtedly has an advantage over her peers – she grew up watching her journalist mother Eve Pollard critique those who came before her in the tabloid newspapers she edited.

As a teenager, Claudia would confidently visit her in her office and would muse over that day’s headlines, giving her a unique insight into the fame game that would go on to serve her so well in her adult life.

One of her mother’s colleagues at the time said: ‘Claudia would often go in after school and have a nose around, see what was going on. She found it fascinating, she was a clever young thing who would soak it up.

‘While she was young then it must have given her a bit of a head start about how to be professional, how to play the game so people don’t think you’re a big time Charlie.’

Ms Pollard beams with pride when she talks about her daughter, who made her name as the host of the now defunct showbiz bulletin Liquid News which was shown on BBC Three.

Claudia was vying to make her name at the same time as Ms Pollard’s fellow tabloid journalist and friend Anne Robinson’s daughter Emma Wilson. It would be fair to say there is joy in the Pollard/Winkleman household that Claudia’s rise was somewhat more substantial.

It’s fair to say that Claudia has been ridiculed for her ‘look’ for some years – especially THAT fringe. But now she has become somewhat of a fashion icon thanks to her very British tweed look on the Highlands-based show.

Her fashion choices on The Traitors have included a £595 argyle vest from British luxury brand Purdey London, which has sold out since it was seen in the first episode

There was a £595 argyle vest from British luxury brand Purdey London, which has sold out since it was seen in the first episode, a £480 jumper with smiley faces by Japanese menswear brand Kapital in episode two, a £259 mohair kilt from Highland brand Brora and £180 Dr Martens Chelsea boots.

Another look featured a £1,320 khaki cashmere-felt coat from Parisienne brand Officine Generale, a £185 patterned cashmere jumper from Brora, £179 tweed trousers from Cordings and £125 green Hunter wellies.

Then there was the stand out £2,175 velvet Yves Saint Laurent blazer.

Her fashion choices are thanks to the highly regarded Sinead McKeefry – her stylist who previously worked with the likes of Amanda Holden and Holly Willoughby.

Ms McKeefry had just two weeks to put the outfits together, and for the first time fashion houses are really taking note of Claudia.

Other members of her ‘glam squad are Dusty Springfield’s former make up artist Debbie Dannell who has worked with Claudia for many years.

Veteran Ms Dannell has also made up Taylor Swift and Beyonce. She is joined by Amy Heath, who coiffures Claudia’s fringe having previously worked with Good Morning Britain’s Piers Morgan, Susanna Reid and Charlotte Hawkins.