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Claudia Winkleman quits her chatshow after seven episodes
Claudia Winkleman has stepped down as host of The Claudia Winkleman Show after just one series, admitting she was "too nervous to enjoy" interviewing guests on the BBC chatshow. The move is a notable setback given her enormous popularity following the success of The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing, and it highlights how demanding the chatshow format remains even for established, well-liked presenters.
The show launched in March and ran for only seven episodes, attracting a combined average audience of between 1.5 million and 2 million viewers, below Graham Norton's more than 2 million per episode. Reviews were mixed, with critics such as the Guardian's Lucy Mangan praising Winkleman's charm while criticising the opening episode's execution. The BBC's Ed Havard said the broadcaster respected her decision, and the article notes other presenters, including Davina McCall, have similarly struggled with or regretted taking on the format, amid growing competition from podcasts and online shows.
In short
- Claudia Winkleman quits her BBC chatshow after only seven episodes
- She said she felt "too nervous to enjoy" the interviews
- Show drew 1.5-2m viewers; BBC says it respects her decision
Explained simply
Claudia Winkleman is a popular British television presenter best known for hosting the game show The Traitors and as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. She launched her own chatshow on the BBC in March, but has now stepped down after just seven episodes, saying she felt too nervous to enjoy interviewing her guests.
This is a notable setback given Winkleman's enormous popularity and success on other programmes. The show attracted between 1.5 and 2 million viewers per episode, which, whilst respectable, fell below the audience figures for established chatshows like Graham Norton's programme. Reviews of the show were mixed, with some critics praising her charm whilst others found fault with its execution.
Winkleman is not alone in finding the chatshow format difficult. Other well-known presenters, including Davina McCall, have similarly struggled with or regretted taking on the role, and the format faces growing competition from podcasts and online content. The BBC has respected her decision to leave.
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