Claudia Winkleman fans floored after seeing what star looks like without fringe

fans have been left gobsmacked after a throwback clip from 1996 resurfaced, showing the long before she became a familiar face on . The now 53-year-old joined the Strictly results show as a co-host with Tess Daly in 2010, and ascended to the main show in 2014 after Bruce Forsyth stepped down.

Known for her iconic and heavy eyeliner, Claudia's signature style has become synonymous with her TV persona. But viewers were astonished to see how different she appeared as a youthful 24-year-old in vintage archive footage.

The post, featuring the clip, was captioned: "Claudia Winkleman on how to improve your pulling power. OnThisDay 1996: 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."

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In the snippet, a young Winkleman, dubbed a "chat up connoisseur", dishes out flirting advice aimed at both sexes.

Fans didn't hold back on their reactions to her pre-fame look, with one commenting: "She's a beautiful lady - she doesn't need to hide behind a fringe and eyeline."

Another remarked: "Wow. Looks so different but her voice and mannerisms give it away." While a third admirer noted: "Lovely woman inside and out, then and now."

Another user remarked: "Her accent has changed quite a bit, she's definitely not as posh as she is in this clip. I think she's fab." One also commented: "I would never have recognised her."

A different user noted: "Her hairstyle suits her so much more than having a fringe 1⁄2 way down her face. The natural colour looks better too."

Winkleman's television journey began in 1992 with an appearance on the BBC series Holiday. In the mid '90s, she even featured on as a reporter, getting the scoop on lots of celebrity news.

Her breakthrough TV role came in 2001 with Central Weekend, a regional debate show. Subsequently, she went on to present : It Takes Two and later joined the main show.

In recent times, Winkleman has been at the helm of several shows including The Great British Sewing Bee, The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz, Britain’s Best Home Cook and UK.

Tech Advisor reports that recording for season 4 of The Traitors UK is set for this spring or summer, teasing a potential return to our screens in early January 2026.

Meanwhile, the BBC excitedly announced on Instagram: "The time for talk is over... The Traitors has been commissioned for a fourth series as well as a nine-part celebrity version for and BBC One - and series three has already been filmed in the Scottish Highlands.

"But that's not all - The Traitors: Uncloaked is set to make a comeback on @bbcsounds and iPlayer too!"