Claudia Winkleman looks completely unrecognisable in unearthed interview from 29 years ago before she adopted her trademark fringe as fans joke 'a rare glimpse of forehead'

Daily Mail​

08-05-2025

looked completely unrecognisable in an interview from 29-years-ago, before the star adopted her trademark fringe.
The TV presenter, 53, is known for her iconic long dark fringe, heavy eye liner and thick layer of fake tan.
However back when she was just 24 the star was yet to adopt her iconic look and has left fans gobsmacked after the BBC reposted an unearthed clip where she appeared as a 'chat up connoisseur'.
Sharing the video almost three decades since it first aired, fans exclaimed that they didn't recognise the star as she wore her hair in a side parting and swept her blonder locks to one side.
The BBC shared: '1996: Claudia Winkleman on how to improve your pulling power.
'Claudia Winkleman had some top tips and choice chat-up lines to help men and women alike, to improve their pulling power.
'Clip taken from Good Morning with Anne and Nick, originally broadcast 3 May 1996.'
And fans went wild as one joked: 'A rare glimpse of her forehead'.
Others penned: 'I don't think I would have recognised her!'; 'She looks completely different now! But same quirkiness';
'Wow. Looks so different but her voice and mannerisms give it away'; 'Agree. Plus her sense of humour, then and now, is absolutely on point!'
'I would never have recognised her!!!'; 'Pre fringe Winkleman'; 'What a beautiful lady! Gosh, those eyes';
'Her hairstyle suits her so much more than having a fringe ½ way down her face. The natural colour looks better too.'
Claudia has talked openly about her fringe choice in the past, aptly naming her 2020 tour Behind The Fringe.
She previously explained her dedication to her hairstyle, quipping that her signature fringe launched both her TV career and her sex life.
Sharing the video almost three decades since it first aired, fans exclaimed that they didn't recognise the star as she wore her hair in a side parting and swept her blonder hair to one side
Fans went wild as one joked: 'A rare glimpse of her forehead' and others penned: 'I don't think I would have recognised her!'
Speaking on the tour she said: 'People ask, 'Did you always have a fringe?'. And yes I did,' she told the audience, quipping: 'People ask what I am hiding with my fringe — and it's a massive forehead that is repellent.'
She also previously told Hello!: 'I haven't seen my forehead for about 15 years. I don't even know what's under my fringe - there could be squirrels, parrots - I've got no idea.'
Before adding: 'But no I can't imagine ever getting rid of it.'
Another remarked on her accent as they added: 'Her accent has changed quite a bit, she's definitely not as posh as she is in this clip. I think she's fab'.
Appearing on the show in the unearthed clip with relationship expert Ben Renshaw, Claudia joked that she 'hardly ever' gets chatted up but when she does she gets 'very overexcited'.
Claudia quipped: 'Eye contact. It's all eye contact but it can be terrifying. You can be sitting at the other side of the bar making eye contact for an hour and a half and then he'll leave.
'They might instigate it - if I girl comes up to you and says, "Have you got a light?" she's got four boxes of matches in her bag.
'She does not want a light, she wants something else. Boys are so sweet and I don't think they realise.'
The resurfaced clip comes after the full-line up for Celebrity Traitors was finally revealed in April after months of speculation.
The first UK celebrity version of the BBC hit reality show will see Claudia host once again with filming beginning this month at Ardross Castle in Inverness.
The celebrities who will transform into Traitors and Faithfuls include a variety of actors; Stephen Fry, Ruth Codd, Celia Imrie, Tameka Empson and Mark Bonnar.
Comedians Alan Carr, Nick Mohammed, Joe Wilkinson and Lucy Beaumont will also take part, joining singers Paloma Faith, Cat Burns and Charlotte Church.
Also confirmed for the show are presenters Jonathan Ross, Clare Balding and Kate Garraway, Olympic diver Tom Daley, rugby player Joe Marler, historian and writer David Olusoga and YouTuber Niko Omilana.