Controversial 00s BBC series accused of body-shaming tipped to return after 19 years

Trinny Woodall has said she’s in talks to revive the infamous hit makeover show What Not to Wear.

The show was a ratings win for the BBC back in the noughties, as millions tuned in to see fashion gurus Trinny and Susannah Constantine ambush women who had been nominated by their mates because they needed a fashion intervention.

Trinny and Susannah were known for their brutally honest style tips and propensity to grab breasts, earning the show two Bafta nominations and even a cameo on Doctor Who before its run ended in 2005. 

But in the years since, What Not to Wear has been accused of body-shaming, with resurfaced clips showing women reduced to tears by comments from the co-hosts, which included passing judgment on things like ‘chicken wing arms’ and ‘thunder thighs’.

That reappraisal was something Trinny referenced on Lorraine Kelly’s podcast, after she admitted: ‘We were, interestingly, recently asked to do it again.

‘It’s an interesting conversation, because it’s a conversation that’s slightly still happening.’

The 62-year-old went on to explain that when she and Susannah were initially approached, she thought ‘no way’, as the pair are busy with other projects. 

Speaking on the Experience is Everything podcast, she continued: ‘But it was very nice, the people who came to see us, so then we just had a meeting with them.

‘They had made the whole of their younger team watch all of the old What Not to Wears and they loved it. I was surprised because there’s a real Y2K kind of, “How can you…?”

‘We did things that were very extreme. We’d go and get a husband saying, “Yes, do put a camera in my wife’s dressing room so we can see how she dresses”.’

Kelly described the show as ‘very honest’, noting that such frank comments are far rarer today because people are ‘frightened of offending’.

Trinny then quipped: ‘Apart from Jeremy Clarkson. But he’s not on the BBC.’ The former Grand Tour star appeared on What Not to Wear in 2002 and clashed with the hosts, who he labelled ‘sweet bullies’.

Trinny did not reveal which broadcaster or production company she and Susannah are in talks with, but she did say they have been ‘very persuasive’ and are exploring ways filming the show could be integrated into their lives.

Susannah had previously ruled out a reboot of the show, telling the Radio Times in 2022: ‘It was of its time and came along at the right moment, but it wouldn’t work today and I can understand why. People are fed up of being told what to do.’

Then in 2024, the former co-hosts’ daughters told Tatler their mums would be cancelled if the show were made today. Woodall’s daughter Lyla Elichaoff told the publication: ‘You can’t really speak to people like that any more, and say things like, “You’re so ugly”.’

Metro contacted the BBC and Trinny Woodall for further comment.