Unexpected Guest Steals the Show on The Claudia Winkleman Show
The latest episode of The Claudia Winkleman Show delivered a dose of star power and a surprise visit that left its celebrity guests, including Hollywood heavyweights Lisa Kudrow and Jamie Dornan, utterly gobsmacked. The esteemed panel, also featuring comedian Jimmy Carr and rising star Chase Infiniti, was treated to an appearance by a contestant who has become a bona fide national treasure: Linda Rands from the hit BBC show The Traitors. Rands, who has previously lauded the series as “the best thing on TV,” made an unannounced appearance, much to the delight and astonishment of everyone present.
Lisa Kudrow, the beloved Emmy-winning actress best known for her iconic role as Phoebe Buffay in Friends, joined the conversation, sharing insights into her return for a third season of her HBO comedy, The Comeback. The series, which first premiered in 2005 and saw its second season air in 2014, has recently debuted its highly anticipated third outing. Kudrow, 62, admitted to a moment of self-doubt upon donning her character’s wig for the new season. “I get the wig on, and we’re on the set, and I think ‘I don’t know if I know how to do this’… because she is 10 years older every time – but I got in the swing of it!” she confessed.
In a remarkable turn of events, Kudrow revealed that a particular storyline for her character, Valerie, was directly inspired by Linda Rands, a fan favourite from The Traitors UK. This revelation set the stage for an even greater surprise when Linda herself walked into the studio, bridging the gap between fiction and reality in a truly unexpected fashion.
Jamie Dornan, the 43-year-old Fifty Shades of Grey star, expressed his own fervent admiration for The Traitors. He shared, “It’s the only thing [The Traitors] that my wife, my three kids and the dog genuinely watch together. It’s incredible, I think it is the best thing on TV!” Kudrow wholeheartedly agreed, echoing his sentiments.
Linda Rands, a retired opera singer, competed in the third series of the popular BBC programme, where she was notably chosen as a Traitor by Claudia Winkleman herself. She became instantly recognisable to viewers for her memorable “head turn” reaction when Winkleman uttered the word “Traitors,” a moment captured by the eventual winner, Jake Brown. Despite an early misstep that led to her banishment from the castle, Linda’s presence on The Traitors left an indelible mark on the show’s audience.
The conversation then shifted to Kudrow’s enduring legacy with Friends. “I don’t mind talking about Friends – I’m proud of it,” she stated. She shared a unique viewing experience, revealing that she is currently re-watching the sitcom with her son’s girlfriend, who has never seen it before. This, she admitted, is something her son finds particularly thrilling. Kudrow also reminisced about behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the filming of the iconic show, including security checks on her car after shoots and the special mementos she took home, such as Phoebe’s rings and the distinctive cookie jar gifted to her by the late Matthew Perry. Claudia Winkleman highlighted the show’s significant cultural impact by asking audience members named Phoebe to stand, prompting a surprisingly large number of people to rise from their seats.
Meanwhile, comedian Jimmy Carr, 53, joined the discussion to talk about the second series of Last One Laughing, which he hosts. He expressed surprise at the intensity with which contestants approach the show, stating, “I was surprised that people take it so seriously but I kind of love that about it.” Carr offered a humorous and somewhat self-deprecating observation about his profession: “Comedians are an odd bunch at the best of the times… I mean there is something missing to want to be a stand-up comedian – something’s gone wrong somewhere.” When asked about his hypothetical game plan if he were a contestant, Carr quipped, “I would wear what I normally wear, a three piece [suit] and a tie and I would just full Magic Mike, Full Monty it, and grind! Lots of eye contact and super sexy.” He also provided some tongue-in-cheek advice for Jamie Dornan, who was set to host a segment on Saturday Night Live UK: “Dedicate 25 years of your life to stand-up comedy, and then I think you will nail it.”
Dornan, clearly amused, responded to Carr’s advice with a dry wit, remarking, “I couldn’t be less prepared for this!”
The show also featured insights from Chase Infiniti, 25, who shared the fascinating origin of her distinctive name. “My parents had watched Batman Forever, and Nicole Kidman played the character Chase Meridian… and then Infiniti comes from Toy Story – ‘to infinity and beyond!'” she explained. Chase also mentioned her sister, Dolce, who shares her penchant for unique names and has a passion for fashion. She recalled a memorable encounter at this year’s Oscars where she met Nicole Kidman. “I told her I was named after her – she was so lovely!” Chase recounted.
Having appeared in this year’s best picture winner, ‘One Battle After Another,’ Chase described her experience at the Oscars ceremony. “I went to five parties that night! It was my first Oscars; I tried to go to as many as I possibly could!” she enthused.
Discussing her casting in the film and her experience working alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase revealed that her K-pop covers on YouTube played a role in securing the part. She recounted a particularly nerve-wracking moment during her first camera test: “My first camera test I had, I was asked to shave his [Leonardo DiCaprio] face, and I didn’t know what I was doing. I was shaking the entire time because it was an electric razor and I just kept thinking ‘What am I doing? This is Leonardo DiCaprio!'”
The Claudia Winkleman Show airs on Fridays on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
