The Claudia Winkleman Show will not be returning for another season. After just seven episodes on the BBC, the chat show has officially been cancelled. Host Claudia Winkleman recently revealed that the decision ultimately came down to how she felt while fronting the programme.
The news was confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter as Winkleman admitted she never truly felt comfortable hosting the Graham Norton style chat show despite the excitement surrounding its launch earlier this year.
Claudia Winkleman Says She Was ‘Too Nervous To Enjoy’ The Show
In a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, Winkleman thanked the BBC, her guests and the production team before explaining why she decided to step away from the series.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the BBC for giving me the opportunity, to the guests who agreed to come and chat to me and the production team who were simply excellent,” she said.
She went on to reveal that hosting the programme turned out to be a different experience than she had expected.
“Sometimes you have to try something to see how it fits, and I realized I was just too nervous to enjoy it. Maybe one day I will give it another try, but for now I already have the best jobs in the world and absolutely love the shows I’m doing.”
The Chat Show Lasted Just One Season
The series premiered on BBC One in March and ran for a total of seven episodes. During its short run, Winkleman welcomed a number of well-known guests such as Jeff Goldblum, Ralph Fiennes, Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Saunders, Jamie Dornan, Chase Infiniti and Niall Horan.
The first episode reportedly attracted around 1.4 to 1.5 million viewers but ratings varied throughout the season.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the programme also received mixed reviews from television critics, some of whom felt Winkleman appeared nervous while interviewing guests.
BBC Responds To The Cancellation
The BBC has expressed its support for Winkleman’s decision.
“Claudia’s warmth and quick wit made The Claudia Winkleman Show an absolute joy,” Ed Havard, the BBC’s Director of Entertainment, said in a statement, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.
He added, “Whilst we loved the show, we fully respect her decision and would like to thank Claudia and the brilliant team at So Television for bringing the series to screen on the BBC.”
Claudia Winkleman Will Return To The Celebrity Traitors
Although her chat show has come to an end, Winkleman isn’t stepping away from television. The BBC confirmed that she will soon return as the host of The Celebrity Traitors which is scheduled to air later this year.
“As the host of the country’s most watched show, Claudia will be back on the BBC very soon when The Celebrity Traitors returns later this year, and we can’t wait to see what she has in store for the new band of celebs,” Havard said.
Winkleman remains one of Britain’s best known television presenters who has hosted popular programmes like trictly Come Dancing, The Traitors and previously presenting the Saturday show on BBC Radio 2 between 2020 and 2024.
