As the presenter of Strictly Come Dancing, you might think Claudia Winkleman would be among the first to know the line-up each year. 

Not so. 

The host has revealed the reason why bosses have to keep it a secret from her until it is revealed to the public – and it is to do with her being “leaky” (her words). 

During an appearance on The One Show on Monday night, Claudia told hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas: “I am the last person. In 2006 when you two weren’t born, I was doing It Takes Two which was the sister show. 

“They brought me in and they said ‘we’re going to give you the list and we’re going to give it to you quite early but you can’t tell a single soul’ and I was like ‘of course I won’t’.

Claudia continued: “And it was very important we passed around crisps and they told me the names and then I went off with my little backpack and go in the lift and someone said: ‘oh don’t you do the sister show, who is taking part?’

“And I told them the whole…I was like ‘this, this, this and this, won’t they be good if they danced with so and so?’

“It was not his fault it was mine, and the next day he went ‘by the way she’s a bit leaky’, so now they tell me nothing.

“They bring in Tess, they take Dave Arch to one side and say ‘this is who’s doing it’, and then they’ll tell me pretty much after the press,” she added. 

Among the 12 stars taking part in this year’s Strictly line-up are former home secretary Jacqui Smith, Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo, actor Caroline Quentin, reality star Jamie Laing, boxer Nicola Adams and comedian Bill Bailey. 

The show has made a number of changes due to the coronavirus pandemic, including running for four weeks less than usual. 

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on Saturday 17 October. The One Show airs weeknights at 7pm on BBC One.