Claudia Winkleman, the much-loved presenter of Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors, is a woman in high demand in the world of showbiz. Despite her busy schedule, which also includes delighting audiences on Channel 4’s The Piano alongside Mika and Lang Lang, Claudia has always prioritised her health and wellness.
She follows a few simple yet effective rules to ensure she remains at her best, with everything from ways to unwind to what she eats and drinks making the cut. However, some of her lifestyle choices such as sleeping in her makeup and professing to hate drinking water, might not be for everyone.
Here, we delve into some of Claudia’s most favoured health and wellness tips…
No mirrors in the house
Claudia Winkleman has a strict no-mirror rule in her home
(Image: Sinead McKeefry/Instagram)
One surprising fact is that there are no mirrors in her house. Despite appearing flawless on screen, Claudia revealed in a 2014 interview with Women’s Health’s Going for Goal podcast that she doesn’t keep mirrors in her home. This habit was instilled by her mother, former newspaper editor Eve Pollard, who raised her in a mirror-free house – a tradition Claudia has chosen to continue in her own home.
Claudia candidly shared insights into her personal beliefs and habits, including her disregard for physical appearance, which she attributes to her upbringing. “I was brought up in a house without mirrors, so my mum is a huge believer – and my dad – in the shell is only that. What I look like, how I’ve done my eyeliner – that’s not the shiz, the stuff is the inside, the chat, the brains, the laughs, the loyalty, the kindness, the cooking an extraordinary roast chicken,” she explained, reports the Mirror.
“What you look like is the least interesting thing about you, it’s got to be, because it is all going to fall apart, and I hope I’ve passed that onto my kids as well.”
She sleeps in her makeup
Claudia previously confessed to sleeping in her makeup regularly
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for LOVE Magazine/Conde Nast)
In a surprising revelation, the star admitted to frequently sleeping in her makeup, a habit that defies conventional beauty norms. “I’ve never ever taken it off before bed,” she disclosed to The Express.
“I take it off the next morning with my nifty Boots No7 gel which comes in a tube. Fantastic – don’t have to deal with pot opening. But no, I sleep in it. I have more fun in my dream.”
However, this practice does come with its downsides, particularly when it comes to keeping her bedding clean. “Yes, it’s disgusting,” she conceded. “With the eyeliner and the spray tan, it looks like I’ve had quite a nasty accident. You just have to apologise. I just wash [the sheets] a lot.”
She credits her fringe for boosting her sex life
Claudia credits her fringe for her sex life and teenage glow-up
Additionally, Winkleman humorously credits her fringe for having a positive impact on her sex life. Claudia entertained fans across the nation last year with her speaking tour entitled Behind The Fringe, sharing personal stories and endearing life anecdotes.
During a memorable event in Guildford, Claudia disclosed that she would forever maintain her signature heavy fringe, stating humorously, “People ask, ‘Did you always have a fringe? ‘ Yes, I did. People ask what I am hiding with my fringe – it’s a massive forehead that is repellent.”
She went on to cheekily add: “I was born with six extra teeth like a little dinosaur. When people saw me smile they screamed. But when I was 21 and a virgin, I got my fringe and everything started happening.”
Beyond the amusement, Claudia confided in the Irish News that her fringe acts as a shield, aiding her through life’s daily hardships: “I think I came out of the womb with a fringe,” she quipped, “If you’re on the school run, look disgusting, are knackered, have lost your house keys, are in mismatching shoes and the world’s falling apart, but you’ve got a fringe – a heavy fringe – something’s still going on.”
She has a distinct love of oral hygiene
Claudia takes her oral health very seriously
(Image: PA)
In addition to her affection for her fringe, Claudia has a profound regard for dental hygiene. Speaking to Stylist, she once conveyed that brushing her teeth was akin to anticipating a vacation: “I look forward to it like people do with holidays.”
The television icon openly discussed her decision to invest in invisible braces during her 40s, addressing an issue with her teeth that appeared unexpectedly.
On The Emma Guns Show podcast in 2018, Claudia shared: “They’re part of the mid-life crisis. I’ve got Invisalign in. My teeth suddenly went crooked, one morning they all decided to fold in front of each other, you couldn’t do anything with them so I got this, I’m slightly in love with it. They’re so clever.”
Gratitude is everything
The Traitors host Claudia also revealed she likes to be gracious about the good things in her life
(Image: Ian West/PA Wire)
Claudia’s outlook on life is refreshingly positive, focusing on gratitude rather than dwelling on past mistakes. She is keen to embrace a positive attitude and to be grateful for the good things in her life, which means Claudia doesn’t believe in regrets.
She told the Irish News : ‘They’re a bit of a waste of time. Of course, I haven’t done everything right in my life, but I’m incredibly grateful for what I have. I think we’re all agreed, I’ve been far too lucky already.”
She’s a voracious reader
Books are something Claudia adores and she likes to spend her evening reading
(Image: GETTY)
Although she may be one of the most in-demand people on TV, Claudia is surprisingly more invested in books than she is a screen. Making the most of her downtime amid a busy work schedule, the Strictly star can often be found with her nose in a book – and for good reason.”
Despite her busy television career, Claudia is an avid reader, a trait she attributes to her family and a conscious choice to prioritize books over screens. She explained her reading habit in an interview with SheerLuxe: “Both my mother and my father were big readers, so it’s in my blood,” adding, “But it’s also about habit – get into bed and pick up a book, not your phone. So long as it’s on charge in another room, I’m not interested in my phone.”
She’s a big advocate for long showers
Claudia Winkleman likes to end her day with an extended shower
(Image: BBC)
Claudia is a firm believer in the power of long showers. After a tiring day, she finds solace in an extended shower session to unwind and relax.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Claudia shared: “This is going to be weird for you because most people are probably going to say bath, but I love an endless shower.”
She added, “You turn the shower on and you get in and you go, ‘Here we go’. I have Head and Shoulders, the new Nourishing Care Lavender one. It’s so amazing. You open it up and suddenly you’re in Provence.”
Drinking a glass of water is a big no-no
Claudia is not a fan of drinking water
(Image: BBC / Studio Lambert)
Contrary to popular medical advice that encourages drinking at least 2 litres of water a day, Claudia isn’t a fan of plain water. During her appearance on the Off Menu podcast, she confessed: “I don’t like or believe in water, I won’t have it… I’ve never knowingly had water, I don’t like it. When people drink it – such as my husband, who drinks great amounts of water and whom I really like – it’s problematic.”
She continued, “He’s glugging, I think “Don’t touch me”, he says, “Claud, take your bra off” – I don’t think so. I’m never thirsty, I’ve never been thirsty, and I don’t like the taste. Sparkling is too much of a shock. I just don’t like liquids.”
She hates cheat-meals
When it comes to diets, Claudia hates the term ‘cheat-meal’ – but she does indulge in cheeky takeaways with her Strictly co-host
(Image: PA)
Claudia maintains a laid-back attitude towards her diet, without adhering to any specific regimen, thus avoiding any fad or crash diets. She has previously expressed her fondness for avocados, a superfood packed with healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals.
The Strictly host is also known for enjoying takeaways with co-host Tess Daly, and has been spotted indulging in four Filet-O-Fish from McDonald’s at once. However, she takes issue with the term ‘cheat meals’, a topic she has discussed with Marie Claire, as she doesn’t want food to be associated with guilt.
“I don’t think it should be called a cheat meal. Then what are the other meals? We all have to be careful about the way we talk about it,” she contended. When asked about her favourite meal, she replied: “Roast chicken, roast potatoes, horseradish, buttery peas, a cheese board that will include Gorgonzola, and then probably tiramisu.”