Claudia Winkleman was left raving that hosting Crufts had ‘been the best day of her life’ and even better than her WEDDING as she joined Clare Balding on Channel 4. 

The Traitors host, who worked alongside Crufts host Clare, 55, during her stint in the Celebrity Traitors castle, was seen co-hosting live from around the arena. 

Claudia, 54, had been tasked with interviewing both guests and show dog owners alike as she explored the event, hosted at Birmingham’s NEC, for the first time. 

Crufts, which sees dogs brought to Birmingham from all over the world to compete against each other, takes place over four days with more than 150,000 visitors.

Hosted at the NEC, aside from arena-worthy events like Best In Show, Fly Ball and Agility, the annual show also features rooms packed with stands where dog lovers can shop for their canine friends, or even meet some new ones. 

After cameras followed Claudia exploring the shopping opportunities, and walking around the event’s first-ever grooming competition, the Piano host was then given a chance to get stuck in with a performance. 

Claudia Winkleman was left raving that hosting Crufts had ‘been the best day of her life’ and even better than her WEDDING as she joined Clare Balding on Channel 4 

Claudia met with the Southern Golden Retriever Society’s Display Team

Claudia met with the Southern Golden Retriever Society’s Display Team, a group of 22 dogs and handlers who perform complex walking routines in front of audiences.

The TV host was given an opportunity to try her hand at being a handler for one of the dogs taking part, named Honey, after being given a few minutes of training. 

She told Clare back in the studio: ‘I’m lucky enough to be with the Southern Golden Retriever display team, and they’re going to let me walk with them as they do their routine. 

‘They have been here for 25 years and will be performing on Saturday and Sunday.’

Pointing down towards the floor and showcasing her four-legged partner Honey, Claudia said: ‘Clare, I’m going to be honest with you, I’ve had the best day of my life.’

Clare was then seen questioning Claudia on working with the golden-haired dogs, but Claudia was soon distracted as Honey began wondering off. 

‘Not now, Honey, we’ve had this conversation,’ Claudia could be heard telling the pooch, adding: ‘Honey, remember, we do twirling, sit, good girl!’ 

As Honey continued to walk away from Claudia, the Traitors host continued: ‘Clare, are you ready to be both appalled and alarmed?’ 

The TV host was given an opportunity to try her hand at being a handler for one of the dogs taking part, named Honey, after being given a few minutes of training

As Claudia got stuck in with the routine, she was soon paces behind the rest of the display team and struggling to keep up – before Honey started jumping up, and refused to sit on cue

‘I’m ready to be impressed,’ Clare responded, as Claudia explained: ‘Everybody else is amazing, this is David and he’s helped me, but Clare, thanks so much for letting me come, that’s all I want to say.’ 

As Claudia got stuck in with the routine, she was soon paces behind the rest of the display team and struggling to keep up – before Honey started jumping up, and refused to sit on cue. 

‘No, no, I love you, please,’ Claudia could be seen telling Honey, with Clare heard giggling back in the studio as Honey continued to follow Claudia despite her instructions to stay put.

‘Remember the deal!’ she added towards the confused pooch, before telling Clare: ‘It’s really going to be fine,’ and removing herself from the routine. 

She heaped praise on the group for their ‘majestic’ routine as they continued to perform her, adding: ‘David is now doing this with both Poppy and Honey because I wasn’t very good. 

‘But there it is, best day of my life. I quite liked my wedding, this is better.’ 

It comes after Amanda Holden issued a VERY savage put down in the direction of her husband Chris Hughes as she also made an appearance at Crufts 2026. 

The Britain’s Got Talent judge was seen joining co-host Claudia Winkleman, who joined Clare Balding for the first time as part of the Channel 4 coverage.

Amanda, 55, stopped for a chat with Claudia as the duo excitedly discussed everything they had done during their ‘first time’ at the global event. 

Amanda admitted she’d wasted no time in getting stuck in, before heaping praise on her two dogs, Minnie and Rudy, whose portraits were embroidered across the back of her jacket. 

Amanda Holden issued a VERY savage put down in the direction of her husband Chris Hughes as she made an appearance at Crufts 2026 (pictured: Amanda and Claudia Winkleman) 

‘Minnie is from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, Rudy is from somewhere random, he’s 15 years old now,’ Amanda began gushing over her pooches. 

‘I did a DNA test on Minnie because we didn’t know what she was and the result came back that I am the mother, which was a relief,’ she continued to joke. 

‘No, she’s a shih tzu and toy spaniel, and she literally is the sweetest – you’ve got a Spaniel?’ Amanda then pointed towards Claudia, who added: ‘Yes, I’ve got a spaniel who I French kiss…’

‘Well, I do the same, I bathe with my dogs,’ Amanda then admitted.  ‘But there was a lot of comments, I had a lot of comments about that.’ 

Asked whether she lets her four-legged friend sleep in the bed along side her, Amanda then continued: ‘Only when Chris isn’t there. 

‘My husband Chris, if he sees the dogs, he goes in the spare room because he can’t sleep with them there, they take up all the space.’

Amanda joked: ‘I often choose to sleep with the dogs! Sorry, darling, it’s not Friday!’

Claudia joked back as the pair shared a laugh in front of the gathering crowds: ‘It’s not birthdays or Christmas’, to which Amanda giggled: ‘Exactly!’ 

Amanda showcased her dogs Rudy and Minnie on the back of her jacket

‘Shall we go and cuddle and French kiss some dogs?’ Claudia asked to sign off the interview, as Amanda enthusiastically concluded: ‘Yes! Bye!’ 

Last year, Amanda divided her fans as she revealed she took baths with her two beloved pooches, Minnie and Rudy. 

The presenter had joined co-star Jamie Theakston, 54, on their Breakfast show where she recounted her idyllic weekend in which she spent time at West Wittering beach in West Sussex with her loved ones last May. 

She told how her adorable puppy Minnie, rescued in September 2024, enjoyed her very first trip to the beach, but was left covered in sand following the excursion.

The TV star then revealed that she later drew herself a warm bath after returning home, before deciding to bring her pet pooch in with her for a good scrub down.

And while Jamie didn’t appear to be fussed by her revelation, the same couldn’t be said for their producer, with Amanda clocking that he was sitting with his ‘head in his heads’ as she told her story.

Recalling her weekend, Amanda told how Minnie ‘went nuts’ on the beach and had ‘loved the sea’, as did her other dog Rudie.

She told how her adorable puppy Minnie enjoyed her very first trip to the beach, but was left covered in sand following the excursion (pictured: Amanda and Minnie)

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Amanda Holden deals brutal putdown to husband Chris admitting she sleeps and even BATHES with dogs

But instead of giving Minnie a bath of her own, the star decided to allow her pet to join her in her bath.

She shared: ‘I looked at Minnie the moocher, who’s my dog, and I just thought, I’m gonna put her in with me! 

‘I need to wash her anyway because she’s covered in sand, so I took her collar off and we had a little bath together!’

Amanda continued: ‘I used all her doggie shampoo, so there were no products in the bath so please don’t write in. Minnie was loving it, she was living her best life. Then I got the dog conditioner and got a brush… why has our producer got his head in his hands?’

After observing the producer’s reaction to the news, Amanda went on with her story, adding: ‘I started brushing out her – because she got a little bit matted from her halter under her armpits – so I gave her a good brush, a good clean, and then I got out, but then I put Rudie in the bath water. 

‘I just thought it saves a bit of bath water and then I gave him a good old scrub as well so everyone was clean and fluffy and lovely!’

Amanda and Jamie then put forward the question whether it is appropriate to have a bath with your dog, with Amanda adding: ‘What a phoner!’

As Jamie urged people to text in with their thoughts, Amanda revealed she believed it was appropriate to bathe with your pets before insisting that she didn’t want complaints.

Crufts continues tonight (March 6) at 7:30pm on More4