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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Ashleigh Rainbird

Strictly host Claudia Winkleman takes inspiration from Elvis for wardrobe this series

If you’ve found you Can’t Help Falling In Love with Claudia Winkleman’s Strictly wardrobe this series, there’s a simple explanation.

The host was All Shook Up by Baz Luhrmann’s recent big-screen biopic about flamboyant rock icon Elvis Presley, so she decided to make him her style inspiration.

Claudia, 50, has such a Burning Love for The King she has cardboard cutouts and a set of Elvis curtains in her dressing room – and wore a white crystal-studded suit for Strictly’s launch.

It comes after she revealed outfits for previous Strictly runs were based on themes including Pat Butcher from EastEnders and mulleted tennis ace Andre Agassi.

Claudia has a cardboard cut out of Elvis in her Strictly dressing room (Collect)
The presenter's glitzy outfit during the launch episode took inspiration from Elvis (PA)

Confirming this year’s theme for any Suspicious Minds, Claudia posted: “Did you absolutely love the Elvis movie? Me too…”

And she included snaps of Friday’s white suit by Nadine Merabi, which retails at £520. On Saturday, Claudia also wore white Dolce and Gabbana boots similar to styles Elvis wore – and posed in them with her white-booted Elvis cutout.

A source said: “Claudia loves having fun with fashion and Elvis is such a style icon it seemed a no-brainer to choose him as her inspiration for this series. It helps that he was a fan of sparkle, which suits Strictly.

Claudia rocked white boots and a jacket and jeans combo for the first Strictly live show on Saturday (PA)
Elton John was an inspiration of Claudia's for one Strictly season (Getty Images)

"Expect to see Claudia in lots of rhinestones and, of course, a pair of Blue Suede Shoes.”

Earlier this year, Claudia revealed she chooses a different theme every series and even carries it into her dressing room.

She said: “One year, I was Andre Agassi, when I had long bits in my hair and we put turf in my dressing room. I have done Pam St Clement [Pat in EastEnders], Slash from Guns ‘n’ Roses.

“I had a Joan Rivers moment, Sharon Osbourne, Elton John, Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice...

“My favourite was when we dressed the whole series as Sexy Fish, the restaurant.”

So if any of Claudia’s Elvis-themed outfits hit a bum note this year, just remember it’s all a bit of fun – and Don’t Be Cruel.

Strictly returned on Saturday with its first live performances, following the launch show on Friday, when the couples were announced.

It may be very early on, but already there's an injury on the show, although Kaye Adams was keen to downplay her groin strain when she appeared on Loose Women this morning.

EastEnders icon Pat Butcher was another wardrobe inspiration for Claudia during Strictly (BBC)

Speaking to her fellow panellists, Kaye, whose tango with Kai Widdrington scared 22, said of her thought process before performing: "There just comes a moment, you either lock yourself in the bathroom or you go out there and do it! It's almost as simple as that, but oh my God, there's so many conflicting thoughts going through your head."

Janet Street-Porter then asked her: "What part of your body is aching the most now?" to which Kaye quickly replied: "My brain!"

She then said: "It is actually my brain... I've got a wee groin strain but you don't wanna hear about that, TMI!

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