Claudia Winkleman is joining the Channel 4 presenting team for Crufts just months after giving up her glittering Strictly mic.

The 54-year-old TV host - who, with Tess Daly, 56, quit co-hosting BBC's Strictly Come Dancing in December 2025 - is thrilled to bring the four days of action from the world's most famous dog show at Birmingham's NEC, to viewers.

Claudia - who will work alongside broadcaster Clare Balding, Paralympic champion swimmer Ellie Simmonds and TV presenter Radzi Chinyanganya - said: 'I absolutely love dogs and there is literally nowhere else on earth I'd rather be.

'I can't wait to join this incredible team, and I'm so grateful to Channel 4 for allowing me to be part of it. I have a pocket rammed with treats.'

Clare - who has led Channel 4's coverage of Crufts since 2010 - took part in the first series of the BBC's The Celebrity Traitors in 2025.

She said he cannot wait to be reunited with the star-studded game show's host, Claudia, from Thursday, March 5.

Clare, 55, said: 'I'm really looking forward to working with Claudia, who is a fantastic addition to the team.

'She really loves dogs and will bring an additional element of fun, as well as an intelligent curiosity and, of course, style.'

Channel 4 is delighted that Claudia has signed up to join the Crufts presenting team.

Pete Andrews, Head of Sport at the broadcaster, said: 'Crufts holds a special place in the hearts of Channel 4 viewers.

'There is no other event like it, and it is such a thrill to be welcoming Claudia to our brilliant gang of presenters and adding to our celebration of all things dog.'

Crufts - which sees pooches take part in breed judging, agility, flyball and Heelwork to Music action, as well as compete for the prestigious Best in Show title - will broadcast over 20 hours of live TV across Channel 4 and More4.

Radzi, 39, and Ellie, 31, will be back on the ground inside Birmingham's NEC as they deliver the latest news, features and interviews from the event.

Resident vet Dr Paul Manktelow will offer viewers some top tips for looking after dogs. Jim Rosenthal, 78, and Frank Kane will provide commentary across the four-day spectacle.

Claudia's decision to join the Crufts team comes after she made a bizarre confession about her new dog, Skip, last year - admitting that she puts her tongue in his mouth. 

Speaking about the spaniel on Katy Burke's Where There's a Will There's a Wake podcast, she said: 'So I have recently got a dog who I am in love with. I mean, I'm going to bore you till your ears bleed. The two [kids] have left home. I didn't know what to do. I thought I might steal a baby.

'So instead I got a dog, who I treat like… I mean I don't put him in clothes, but I didn't know, I’d never had a dog before or any form of animal, but this little dog who I open his mouth and insert my tongue. I do.'

The Traitors star added: 'Did you ever see that film There's Something About Mary, and there’s that old orange lady that goes "lalalalala" with her dog? I was like "That is disgusting!"

'It's me! Turns out that I'm that lady. I'm like "How did they know?!"

'So I love Skip, love of my life. I look for toys for him, I stroke his ears, sometimes I've been known to sing him a lullaby.

'My husband was like "This is too much. Have you had a Bailey's?" "No, I've had a Ribena." He was like "Step away, away from the dog!"'

Watch Crufts on Channel 4 and More4 from Thursday, March 5 to Sunday, March 8.