According to sources, ITV is interested in hiring Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman for a six-figure salary.
According to reports, employers are aiming to take The Traitors’ 52-year-old star to lead a Saturday evening series on ITV, albeit she will continue to play key parts on BBC One.
According to a source, ITV considers Claudia to be the current presenter. She’s brilliant, funny, witty, hardworking, and so keen that she’s regarded a safe set of hands on live television.
‘That means she could pretty much tackle any project bosses could throw at her, and it might offer her the next step up in her stellar career.’
The insider insisted to The Sun that there’s ‘no suggestion’ that Claudia will quit Strictly, but ITV bosses would offer her ‘at least £500,000’.
However, thankfully, Claudia’s roles on The Traitors and Strictly are pretty safe.
We hear that no discussions have taken place concerning Claudia’s poaching by ITV.
Meanwhile, despite criticism of the broadcaster’s male-heavy presenting lineup and allegations that the channel is attempting to increase the number of female presenters, an ITV spokeswoman has insisted on ‘a diverse roster of female on-screen talent’.
ITV’s Saturday night entertainment shows are dominated by men, including The Chase Celebrity Special (Bradley Walsh), Wheel of Fortune (Graham Norton), The Masked Singer (Joel Dommett), Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win (Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly), Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad, and Big Zuu’s 12 Dishes in 12 Hours.
Following The Sun’s claims, an ITV spokesperson said: ‘We have a broad roster of female on screen talent across our entire daytime and primetime schedules, and a number of our biggest formats, including Love Island, Big Brother, The Voice UK, Dancing on Ice, My Mum Your Dad and Soccer Aid are hosted or co-hosted by female presenters.
‘Additionally, big weekend shows such as The Masked Singer, Britain’s Got Talent, The Voice UK and Dancing on Ice feature female talent in prominent on screen judging roles.
‘In the last year, we have broadcast shows including An Audience with Kylie Minogue, Mamma Mia I Have A Dream hosted by Zoe Ball and featuring three females on the judging panel, as well as the Olivier Awards and British Soap Awards which were both hosted by female presenters.’
Claudia may be asked to appear in further shows following the resounding success of The Traitors finale.
Traitor Harry Clark received £95,150 following a season filled with memorable incidents, betrayals, Claudia’s stunning sweaters, and the dreaded effervescent rosé.
6.9 million people turned in to see Harry’s ultimate gameplay, with an average of 5.5 million.
Of course, it made it the most-watched show on television last week (since Monday), surpassing the season one finale from last year, which received 3.1 million viewers.
The Traitors is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Source My Celebrity Life.