Claudia Winkleman reveals that she refuses sex with husband due to unusual phobia

She's known to us as the TV presenter who is 50 percent fringe and presides over a bunch of Faithfuls and Traitors battling it out at a castle in the Scottish highlands.

But did you know that Claudia Winkleman actually has a pretty major fear of an everyday item which most of us take for granted?

Revealing the unusual aversion during an interview on Ed Gamble and James Acaster's Off Menu podcast back in 2020, the 53-year-old told the pair that she is immediately turned off by her husband of nearly 25 years Kris Thykier if he does this one thing.

"You should be ashamed of yourself," the TV presenter joked while explaining her major aversion.

So what is it that gives Winkleman such a major ick in the bedroom?

The Traitors presenter has revealed a major turn-off for her (Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Well that would be water, the very organism which sustains life and accounts for anywhere from 50 to 70 percent of our bodies' entire weight.

"I don't like or believe in water, I won't have it," she told the pair. "It's a solid no from me."

Going on to explain how this relates to bedroom activities with her husband, she continued: "I've never knowingly had water, I don't like it.

"When people drink it, like my husband drinks great amounts of water, and I really like him, but it's problematic... He's glugging. Don't touch me. 'Claud, take your bra off.' I don't think so – you should be ashamed of yourself."

Now a fear of water may seem pretty baffling to your or I (who is currently writing this while sipping on a nice, cool glass of water), however it's a viewpoint which Winkleman has doubled down on several times over the years.

During an appearance on Mark Wogan's Virgin Radio series Spooning last year, The Traitors host declared that she personally finds water 'arrogant' and prefers to lock lips with an 'arid, dry mouth'.

Don't let Claudia Winkleman catch you gluggling this (Getty Stock Images)

"You know The Mummy... when he opens his mouth, that's what I want to stuck my tongue in," Winkleman declared.

"I liked a parched, dry and arid mouth. [Like a] Mr Burns' mouth."

Now you may be wondering 'How was Claudia Winkleman made it to the grand age of 53 without drinking water?' which is a question the TV presenter has fortunately provided us the answer to.

Elaborating on her favourite drink of choice Winkleman revealed that she's never without her trusty bottle of Ribena.

"I take it everywhere because I can't abide water. I won't have it. No, thank you, madam," she told Kathy Bates (via The Standard), adding that a bottle of the blackcurrant cordial follows her 'everywhere'.

Decaf coffee is also on the menu - she doesn't drink caffeine - just don't mention what the main component in either of these drinks is.