'I had to do something I felt very uncomfortable with': Claudia Winkleman speaks about having to be 'mean' while hosting her new reality game show The Traitors
Claudia Winkleman has spoken about having to be 'mean' while hosting her new reality game show The Traitors.
The TV presenter, 50, appeared on The Graham Norton Show to discuss her new series, which is based on the Dutch programme De Verraders.
It sees contestants selected by Claudia to be 'The Traitors', before they have to secretly plot to 'murder' their fellow players without their knowledge each day and try to steal the prize money.
![Host: Claudia Winkleman has spoken about having to be 'mean' while hosting her new reality game show The Traitors](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171217-11494931-image-a-51_1669985102644.jpg)
Host: Claudia Winkleman has spoken about having to be 'mean' while hosting her new reality game show The Traitors
Speaking about hosting the series, Claudia admitted she had to do something that she felt 'very uncomfortable with' as she spoke about having to be 'mean' in her role.
In Friday's upcoming episode of the chat show, hosted by Graham, Claudia cryptically said: 'I am not always mean but I did have to do something at the beginning that I felt very uncomfortable with.
'I loved them all but I knew too much about everyone so had to stay separate from them all.'
Claudia went on to admit that she originally turned down the opportunity to host the reality game show, before changing her mind when she watched the original Dutch version.
![New show: The TV presenter, 50, appeared on The Graham Norton Show to discuss her new series, which is based on the Dutch programme De Verraders](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171795-11494931-image-a-64_1669985120732.jpg)
New show: The TV presenter, 50, appeared on The Graham Norton Show to discuss her new series, which is based on the Dutch programme De Verraders
She said: 'I initially said no but then watched the Dutch version and I wept. I loved it so much and said, 'Please let me do it.' I was so lucky to do it.'
The show sees contestants sign up before a small number of players are secretly selected by Claudia to be The Traitors. The rest of the players are known as 'The Faithful' and none of The Faithful know who The Traitors are.
Players are then eliminated when The Traitors meet in secret and decide to 'murder' one of The Faithful. The next morning, when the group meet for breakfast, the 'murdered' player does not appear.
Later in the day, all the players then have to meet at the 'Round Table' and 'banish' the player they suspect of being a Traitor.
![Oh no! Speaking about hosting the series, Claudia admitted she had to do something that she felt 'very uncomfortable with' as she spoke about having to be 'mean' in her role](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171221-11494931-image-a-65_1669985148312.jpg)
Oh no! Speaking about hosting the series, Claudia admitted she had to do something that she felt 'very uncomfortable with' as she spoke about having to be 'mean' in her role
![Success: Claudia is currently fronting the new BBC1 series The Traitors which has gone down a storm with viewers and been recommissioned for a second series next year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171797-11494931-image-a-66_1669985157746.jpg)
Game show: The series sees contestants selected by Claudia to be 'The Traitors', before they have to secretly plot to 'murder' their fellow players and try to steal the pot of prize money
The person they choose then reveals if they are a Traitor or a Faithful before being eliminated from the show.
At the end of the game, the few remaining players share the prize pot if they are all Faithful, but if there is still a Traitor among them, the Traitor takes all the prize money.
Producer Mike Cotton said of the show: 'The series is a nail-biting psychological adventure game and Claudia is a huge fan of the format and is the perfect puppet master to oversee this dramatic game set in the heart of the Scottish Highlands.'
Claudia is serving as the host of the nail-biting series and discussed the programme during her appearance on The Graham Norton Show.
![Changing her mind: Claudia said she originally turned down the opportunity to host the reality game show, before changing her mind when she watched the original Dutch version](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171223-11494931-image-a-67_1669985163930.jpg)
Changing her mind: Claudia said she originally turned down the opportunity to host the reality game show, before changing her mind when she watched the original Dutch version
She was joined on the BBC chat show by Kristin Scott Thomas, George Takei, William Shatner and Jamie Oliver, while First Aid Kit performed live.
Chatting to Graham, Star Trek actor George, 85, admitted that he didn't think the popular sci-fi franchise would be a lasting show - but was proven very wrong.
He said: 'After the pilot episode, I was asked what I thought and I said that I didn't think it would sell or be a lasting show because I smelt quality – I loved the scripts, everyone was great, it was a great idea – and every time I saw a show I really love it only lasted one season. How wrong I was!'
Graham, who played Hikaru Sulu in the series, also asked him if it was true that he and William Shatner, who portrayed James T. Kirk, did not get on.
![Star-studded line up: Claudia was joined on the BBC chat show by Kristin Scott Thomas, George Takei, William Shatner and Jamie Oliver, while First Aid Kit performed live](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171209-11494931-image-a-77_1669985265806.jpg)
Star-studded line up: Claudia was joined on the BBC chat show by Kristin Scott Thomas, George Takei, William Shatner and Jamie Oliver, while First Aid Kit performed live
![Oops! Chatting to Graham, Star Trek actor George, 85, admitted that he didn't think the popular sci-fi franchise would be a lasting show - but was proven very wrong](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171197-11494931-image-m-75_1669985254079.jpg)
![Tension:Graham, who played Hikaru Sulu in the series, also asked him if it was true that he and William Shatner, who portrayed James T. Kirk, did not get on](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171199-11494931-image-a-76_1669985258171.jpg)
Oops! Chatting to Graham, Star Trek actor George, 85, admitted that he didn't think the popular sci-fi franchise would be a lasting show - but was proven very wrong
![Career: He was joined on the iconic red couch by Kristin, 62, who admitted she finds working on TV 'quite challenging' as she discussed season two of spy thriller Slow Horses](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171205-11494931-image-a-78_1669985270774.jpg)
Career: He was joined on the iconic red couch by Kristin, 62, who admitted she finds working on TV 'quite challenging' as she discussed season two of spy thriller Slow Horses
To which he replied: 'You are the last chat show host to be allowed to ask that question as it has become so tiresome to talk about. When Bill has a book to sell he needs publicity and accuses us of using him.
'My subject is more substantial and important. He is a cantankerous old man and I will not talk about him anymore. I vow that this is the very last time I talk about him.'
George also spoke about new West End musical George Takei's Allegiance, based on his childhood experience of internment in World War II.
![Candid: Kristin, who plays Diana Taverner in the spy thriller, said: 'I find TV quite challenging ¿ because I'm not in it all the time I always feel like the new girl](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171213-11494931-image-a-79_1669985280750.jpg)
Candid: Kristin, who plays Diana Taverner in the spy thriller, said: 'I find TV quite challenging – because I'm not in it all the time I always feel like the new girl
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171201-11494931-image-a-80_1669985283955.jpg)
He candidly spoke about how the 'horrible' things he saw when Pearl Harbour was bombed in December 1941 are 'seared' into his memory.
'When Pearl Harbour was bombed, racism and war hysteria swept through the country and Japanese Americans were abused, rounded up and arrested,' he explained.
'It was a horrible time and it's seared into my brain.'
He was joined on the iconic red couch by Kristin, 62, who admitted she finds working on TV 'quite challenging' as she discussed season two of Slow Horses.
![Cooking: Meanwhile, chef Jamie, 47, also graced the star-studded line-up to speak about his brand new cookbook One: Simple One-Pan Wonders](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171203-11494931-image-a-81_1669985286895.jpg)
Cooking: Meanwhile, chef Jamie, 47, also graced the star-studded line-up to speak about his brand new cookbook One: Simple One-Pan Wonders
![Impressive: When reminded that it is the 26th cookbook he has released, Jamie said he is lucky that he has never run out of ideas during the last 25 years](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171231-11494931-image-a-71_1669985238597.jpg)
Impressive: When reminded that it is the 26th cookbook he has released, Jamie said he is lucky that he has never run out of ideas during the last 25 years
Kristin, who plays Diana Taverner in the spy thriller, said: 'I find TV quite challenging – because I'm not in it all the time I always feel like the new girl. You do a day and just as you get into a rhythm it's ripped away and they forget all about you.
'When you come back six weeks later it starts all over again. It is quite tricky and you have to so many different plot lines, shot in different order, it's completely muddling and difficult for me.'
Meanwhile, chef Jamie, 47, also graced the star-studded line-up to speak about his brand new cookbook One: Simple One-Pan Wonders.
When reminded that it is the 26th cookbook he has released, Jamie said he is lucky that he has never run out of ideas during the last 25 years.
![Music: Later in the show, First Aid Kit also took to the stage to perform their single Out of My Head live in the studio](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171225-11494931-image-a-69_1669985172557.jpg)
Music: Later in the show, First Aid Kit also took to the stage to perform their single Out of My Head live in the studio
![Incredible: The Swedish folk duo, made up of sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg, put on an incredible display on stage](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171237-11494931-image-a-70_1669985174012.jpg)
Incredible: The Swedish folk duo, made up of sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg, put on an incredible display on stage
'It's been a long time. I've been so lucky and never run out of ideas but I do have to think what the public wants and that changes quite a lot,' he said.
'So much has changed in the last 25 years. I do all the hard work so it's easy for everyone else.'
Later in the show, First Aid Kit also took to the stage to perform their single Out of My Head live in the studio.
The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One on Friday December 2, 10.40pm. Also available on BBC iPlayer.
![All smiles: Johanna and Klara then joined the other stars on the iconic red couch to chat to Graham about their single](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/02/12/65171235-11494931-image-a-68_1669985170875.jpg)
All smiles: Johanna and Klara then joined the other stars on the iconic red couch to chat to Graham about their single
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