Claudia Winkleman has enjoyed a spectacular financial windfall, earning an impressive £2 million in the year ending April 2025, driven by the phenomenal success of hit shows like The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing.
Accounts for her production company, Little Owl Productions, which were recently filed with Companies House, detail this bumper pay day. The documents show that after paying £575,000 in corporation tax, the company was left with earnings of approximately £2 million.
Production Company Sees Massive Cash Boost
The financial health of Winkleman's firm has never been better. Cash reserves at Little Owl Productions surged from £1.5 million to nearly £3 million in just one year, underscoring the presenter's soaring market value.
Established in 2003, Little Owl Productions lists Claudia Winkleman as its sole director. This business structure is a common way for high-profile TV personalities to manage their income. Her diverse portfolio, which also includes presenting The Piano and Channel 4's One Question, contributes significantly to this revenue stream.
Contrasting Fortunes for BBC Stars
This revelation about Winkleman's finances comes shortly after accounts for fellow BBC presenter Graham Norton showed a dip in his earnings. Norton's production company, So Television, reported that he took home £2.4 million last year, a decrease from the £2.7 million he received in 2023.
The decline followed a fall in So Television's financial performance. The company, which produces The Graham Norton Show, saw its programming hours drop from 28 to 22 after shows like The John Bishop Show and Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda were not recommissioned.
This resulted in a significant financial hit for the company. Revenue fell from £14.5 million to £10 million, while pre-tax profit reduced from £3.9 million to £2.2 million.
It is noteworthy that the pay for both Winkleman and Norton does not appear on the BBC's annual list of star salaries, as they are paid through their respective private companies rather than directly by the corporation.
