Claudia Winkleman says her fringe kick-started her sex life and career

She has perhaps the most famous fringe on television, but now Claudia Winkleman says it is also her secret weapon.

Speaking on the first night of her aptly named Behind The Fringe tour in Guildford, Surrey on Monday night, the Strictly Come Dancing presenter, 50, admitted there is good reason why she has stuck to her style rules for decades.

"People ask, 'Did you always have a fringe?' And yes I did," she told the audience. "People ask what I am hiding with my fringe — and it's a massive forehead that is repellent."

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Winkleman said that cutting her fringe aged 21 was a life-changing moment for her.

"I was born with six extra teeth like a little dinosaur," she said. "When people saw me smile they screamed. But when I was 21 and a virgin, I got my fringe and everything started happening."

Winkleman, renowned for her quick wit, read history of art at Cambridge University before launching her TV presenting career.

She started with roles on This Morning and Fame Academy before becoming host of Strictly spin-off It Takes Two.

In 2009 she stepped in to host the main Strictly show alongside Tess Daly when Bruce Forsyth had the flu, before becoming a regular presenter of the Sunday night results show.

She was the obvious choice to join Daly full-time when Forsyth stepped down in 2014.

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As well as her famous bangs, Winkleman also has three other style must-haves – fake tan, black eyeliner and Kate Moss.

The mum-of-three told the audience that she was addicted to fake tan saying: "I like being orange, I think it is because I was born in 1972, I am an eighties kid so everything was like ultra glow."

And before she leaves the house she always asks herself, 'What would Kate Moss do?' adding: "If she would be happy then you can be happy."

And as for her love of eyeliner, she advised: 'When you put it on and think 'That is enough' you have not even begun.'

Tickets for Winkleman's tour are available on Ticketmaster.