The Guardian | UK
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The Guide #263: How Claudia Winkleman became TV’s perfect ‘bad’ gameshow host
The Celebrity Traitors has returned, offering a unique blend of famous personalities interacting. The show features the mathematician Hannah Fry alongside Jerry Hall, and includes expected twists and contestant antics. Richard E. Grant is seen trying to manipulate the game, while Ross Kemp expresses fear of being murdered. Despite these elements, the host Claudia Winkleman is highlighted as the series' secret weapon. Winkleman has become integral to both the celebrity and civilian versions of The Traitors. Her presence feels as essential to the show as its recurring set pieces. Watching international versions of The Traitors with different hosts feels distinctly awkward. While other hosts like Alan Cumming and Siobhan McSweeney perform adequately, they do not replicate Winkleman's success. Her hosting style is central to the show's appeal and establishes her in a lineage of prominent British television presenters.