Claudia Winkleman has candidly shared the real reason for quitting her BBC talk show after just seven episodes. The Traitors star announced she was leaving Strictly Come Dancing last year, but soon after, news broke that she would host her own chat show. However, after filming only one season of seven episodes, Winkleman has confirmed that The Claudia Winkleman Show will not return.
Why Has Claudia Winkleman Quit Her BBC Show?
In a statement, Winkleman said she was “incredibly grateful to the BBC” for the opportunity but admitted she was “too nervous to enjoy it.” She added: "Sometimes you have to try something to see how it fits, and I realised 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 Claudia Winkleman Show started in March and welcomed guests including Lisa Kudrow, Jeff Goldblum, James McAvoy, Niall Horan, and Ralph Fiennes. The series, produced by Graham Norton’s production company, attracted an average combined audience of 1.5-2 million viewers, according to the BBC.
Impact on BBC Schedule
Four years ago, Norton reduced the number of episodes of his own chat show, which made room for The Claudia Winkleman Show between March and May. Generally, The Graham Norton Show welcomes around 3 million viewers, but some special episodes, including his New Year’s Eve episodes, can attract up to 4 million.
Director of entertainment at the BBC, Ed Havard, said: "Claudia's warmth and quick wit made The Claudia Winkleman Show an absolute joy. 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."
What’s Next for Claudia Winkleman?
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. Havard added: "We can't wait to see what she has in store for the new band of celebs." The Claudia Winkleman Show is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
