Claudia Winkleman in split rumours from co-host Tess Daly in huge career move
TV presenter Claudia Winkleman is reportedly planning a significant career move by leaving showbiz agency YMU.
The 52 year old Strictly co-host will be parting ways with Tess Daly, 55, as she cuts ties with the company after ten years, according to Alison Boshoff.
The BBC favourite is rumoured to be joining a new firm, Little Arrow Management Limited, which was established earlier this year. Companies House documents reveal that it has two directors - Claudia's movie producer husband, Kris Thykier, who she recently stepped out with, and Holly Bott, who was Claudia's agent at YMU, but left last year.
Alison suggests that if Claudia makes the jump, it would be a significant move as she is currently one of the highest-paid presenters in Britain. She is believed to earn £150,000 annually for presenting Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC alone, but her income is boosted by her roles hosting The Traitors and Channel 4's The Piano, which has been renewed for a third series, as well as a lucrative advertising deal promoting Head & Shoulders shampoo.
OK! has contacted Claudia's reps for comment.
Last month, Alison hinted that a celebrity series of The Traitors, which returned recently with a Love Island star, could start filming early this summer, provided the BBC can secure Claudia's signature. The idea is to produce a star-studded spin-off of the hit show alongside the third series, which is currently being filmed near Inverness.
It was previously thought that the celebrity version would begin production next year.
Studio Lambert's boss, Stephen Lambert, revealed to Alison that the new season might be coming sooner than expected, possibly even this month.
He confirmed that there would be no changes to the successful format of the show, which involves faithful participants trying to identify traitors while participating in various games and challenges. This will remain the same for the celebrity version.
"The plan is to shoot them pretty much back to back, so at the moment it is just a question of having to be very nice to Claudia Winkleman, so she agrees to spend twice as much time up in Scotland," Stephen explained.
"We are very much going to make a series which is just like The Traitors, apart from the fact the contestants will be celebrities. We are in the process of finalising everything with the BBC," he added.
There has been much speculation about who might participate, with Lambert expressing his wish to see former Prime Minister Liz Truss on the show. Fans have also speculated that Courtney Cox, a friend of Claudia's, might join.
The new series has been filming for a week, and Lambert shared: "We've had some amazing twists. It's hard making season three because the expectations get bigger and bigger. Fortunately, I think it's going well."
Typically, filming takes about five weeks, which would mean wrapping up in June. If the celebrity version is completed within that timeframe, it would give Claudia a free summer holiday - her children Matilda and Arthur are still in school, and eldest son Jake is at university - before she starts work on Strictly Come Dancing in September.
