Claudia Winkleman swaps The Traitors’ fortress for CBeebies Bedtime Story as she turns into the most recent star to participate

Claudia Winkleman has swapped The Traitors‘ castle for CBeebies Bedtime Story as she becomes the latest star to take part.

The presenter, 54, follows in the footsteps of other famous faces who have appeared on the programme, including Harry Styles, Elton John and Chris Hemsworth.

She will read Monkeypig, written and illustrated by Huw Aaron, on Thursday’s episode of the children’s show at 6.50pm.

Monkeypig follows the story of Molly, who lives happily among the monkeys in the jungle, but she’s hiding a big secret: she’s a pig. 

When Norman suspects an imposter has infiltrated the group, he puts everyone through a series of monkey tests. 

Will Molly stay undetected, or will her true identity be revealed? 

Claudia shares three children – Jake, 23, Matilda, 20, and Arthur, 15 – with her husband Kris Thykier.

Speaking about family and watching her own children grow up, she said: ‘When it comes to my kids, I’ve loved all the chapters. 

‘I love them when they are little, I love them when they are squishy, I love them when they are toddlers, I also love them when they are 23, like my eldest.

‘Every little bit is a gift and I am so happy to have them. I’m looking forward to all of it. I’m really really looking forward to being a grandma. No pressure guys.

‘I am a deep embarrassment to my children because I’m too orange, my lipstick is too white and I wear too much black, so they find me excruciating and that’s just how it should be…I embarrass them but that’s our job. 

‘So if you find your parents embarrassing that’s good, it means they’re smashing it.’

John Harkins, who said he has been executive editor of the show since 2019, said he is continually surprised by the caliber of celebrities who want to read a story.

He previously told GQ: ‘I got the opportunity to go to Nashville to film Dolly Parton and brief her in her dressing room, which was just incredible.

‘She requested to do it, and invited us over to Dollywood, [which was set up] with loads of teddy bears. She wanted to know how to read and was asking our advice.’

CBeebies Bedtime Story has been a staple of the channel since it launched back in 2002.

Elsewhere, Claudia is set to return for the new series of Celebrity Traitors which will begin on October 1 at 8pm with an extra-long opening episode.

Joining host Claudia in the Scottish Highlands are Amol Rajan, Bella Ramsey, James Acaster, James Blunt, Jerry Hall, Joanne McNally, Joe Lycett, Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny and Leigh-Anne Pinnock.

Maya Jama, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Myha’la, Professor Hannah Fry, Richard E Grant, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Ross Kemp, Sebastian Croft and Sharon Rooney complete the line-up.

They will play the ultimate game of detection, trust and betrayal in the hope of winning a cash prize up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.

An explosive trailer for the first episode showed the stars meeting each other for the first time at the iconic castle as host Claudia Winkleman declared: ‘The game is ON!’

With the challenges getting bigger and better than ever, a ship goes up in flames as a dramatic fireball blows up.

This year, viewers can also enjoy a one-off bonus episode, Traitor or Faithful? Claudia Decides.

A BBC description of the episode says: ‘New information will be revealed as Claudia gets to know the players on a more personal level.

‘As she interrogates their true intentions, there’s nowhere to hide, but who has it in them to turn to the dark side?

‘And who left Claudia with some easy decision to make?’

Claudia Winkleman reads Monkeypig by Huw Aaron on CBeebies at 6.50pm on Thursday, October 1, and the story will also be available on BBC iPlayer, ahead of the return of The Celebrity Traitors later that evening with an extra-long opening episode at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.