Claudia Winkleman left looking like Ross from Friends in 'worst' tan disaster

TV favourite Claudia Winkleman is just as renowned for her bold black eyeliner and her statement fringe as she is for her penchant for a deeply tanned look. That said, perfecting her hallmark bronzed appearance hasn't always been a breeze; indeed, Claudia has often recalled her beauty blunders with her usual good humour.

One notable tale recounts a self-tanning fiasco that's straight out of a famous Friends episode. At 52, Claudia, who fondly refers to herself as a 'tanorexic', once declared: "I feel better when I'm orange" – reflecting her dedication to achieving that golden complexion.

She confessed in her trademark forthright manner: "I am burnt orange. I will use anything for my fake tan. I would use gravy. I have used mud before. I will use a brown Sharpie," according to reports from OK! magazine.

Her journey into the world of spray tans started off on a rocky note, as she told Get The Gloss back in 2014, comparing her mishap to the infamous Friends character Ross Geller's tanning fiasco: "You've seen the episode of Friends when Ross gets sprayed in the eyes three times in a row and ends up the colour of teak? Yup. My experience was worse. I had NEON hands and a very patchy face. Nice.", reports the Mirror.

Despite repeatedly experiencing setbacks with self-tan applications, Claudia's resolve remains firm, admitting she regularly endures less than ideal results from these products.

Claudia Winkleman has candidly opened up about her beauty blunders and the journey to embracing her unique style. She confessed: "Wrists, ankles, neck – it's always mottled and odd-looking. People, this is a small price to pay. Tan up and look on the positive side – you're not transparent."

The telly favourite, known for her love of a good tan, also recounted a particularly amusing faux pas to Grazia Daily in 2020: "Weirdly my hair is the least of my worries. I've only got my hair, that's what I'm holding onto, everything else has gone to pot. My attempt at fake tan was a disgrace. I woke up with a whole handprint of it on my face," she said.

Reflecting on her personal growth, Claudia shared: "There is something amazing about your late 40s. In my 20s I was a bit angsty, in my 30s it was all about babies. But my 40s have been great, my late 40s even better."

Now confidently owning her look, she encourages others to embrace their individuality, adding: "I don't think anybody should hold judgment. I have three tans a week for goodness sake."

With her characteristic wit, she describes herself as resembling a "male mature French student who's 52 and on his way to a physics lecture."