BBC star Claudia Winkleman has delivered a glowing verdict on Birmingham, singling out its main railway hub as the finest she has ever visited.
A Star-Studded Day in the City Centre
The popular presenter, famed for hosting BBC's The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing, was seen in the heart of Birmingham on Wednesday, 8 January 2026. She was filming scenes for the upcoming fourth series of the heartwarming Channel 4 show, The Piano.
Winkleman, alongside fellow judge and singer MIKA, spent time at both New Street Station and the adjoining Grand Central complex. The show's format involves discovering amateur pianists performing in bustling train stations across the UK, with London, Leeds, and Glasgow also on the filming schedule.
‘Genuinely the Best Station’
While chatting happily with fans and posing for photographs, Winkleman was effusive in her praise for the city. She took a particular shine to babies in the crowd, cooing and holding their hands.
Her highest acclaim, however, was reserved for the transport hub itself. "I love Birmingham," she declared. "This is genuinely the best station I have ever been in, in my life."
In a characteristically quirky aside, she also mentioned her plans to pop into health store Holland & Barrett for some "January vitamins."
What's Next for The Piano and Claudia?
The new series of The Piano is expected to air in spring 2026. It is understood that the third judge, Grammy winner Jon Batiste, will be returning, though he was not present during the Birmingham filming day.
For Winkleman, 2026 marks a significant year, as it will be her final series co-hosting Strictly Come Dancing alongside Tess Daly. Her successor on the flagship BBC dance show has not yet been announced.
She continues to front the hugely successful psychological reality competition BBC's The Traitors, where contestants compete for a prize pot of up to £120,000.
