BBC bosses said the presenter struggled to shed her squeaky clean Strictly Come Dancing persona to front the series, which sees 22 strangers undertake ruthless challenges in a bid to win £120,000.
They also revealed they had worried about creating a show that featured "murder and banishment", but there is now an "appetite for more shows like this".
With its plot twists, deceit and betrayal in a Scottish highlands castle, the first series took the TV world by storm last year.
Last week saw Claudia back on hosting duties for the start of the second series.
Sarah Fay, executive producer of the show's production company Studio Lambert, revealed: "That brutality - Claudia struggled with it initially. She felt like 'Oh I have been given a personality transplant'.
"But she is so intelligent and wonderful. We always knew that would come.
This story is from the January 07, 2024 edition of Sunday Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 07, 2024 edition of Sunday Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Brownhill brilliant for Parker's men
SKIPPER Josh Brownhill's insatiable appetite for goals made it nine unbeaten games on the spin for Scrooge-like Burnley.
Japan favours 39 authentic flavours of UK
A TRADING breakthrough means much of Britain's best-loved food and drink could soon appear more often on menus in Japan.
Alarm over 'epidemic of loneliness'
FEELING lonely at Christmas could affect around 32 million people, research suggests.
Great War airfield can reach for skies once more
THE best preserved First World War airfield has secured its future for another year thanks to the generosity of the public.
Sir Elton won't let the sun go down on writing new songs
SIR ELTON John has revealed he is working on new songs despite having quit touring and suffering a severe infection that has left him unable to see out of his right eye.
World Cup hero George dies
TRIBUTES have flooded in for George Eastham, a member of England's winning 1966 World Cup squad whose death was announced yesterday.
Should I quit while I'm ahead, ponders Lesley as 70th looms
SOPRANO Lesley Garrett has revealed her impending 70th birthday has made her think about quitting singing.
French truckers' threat over checks for migrants
SURLY French lorry drivers have threatened to block goods from entering the UK unless checks to stop migrants arriving become more lenient.
Biden could save 40 from death row
PRESIDENT Joe Biden is considering commuting the death sentences of most - if not all of the 40 prisoners awaiting execution in US federal jails, it has been revealed.
'Time to come clean on mystery drones'
DONALD Trump has urged President Joe Biden to explain thousands of sightings of mysterious, SUV-sized drones reported across at least five US states.
