Claudia Winkleman has broken her silence on her new BBC chat show, delivering a bleak and self-deprecating review where she admitted, "I am so bad at it." The presenter, who took over from Graham Norton's slot while his show is on a seasonal break, opened up in a recent interview about her struggles with the role.
Winkleman's Candid Confession About Chat Show Skills
In a remarkably honest revelation, Claudia Winkleman confessed that she feels her chat show skills are lacking, despite the primetime slot and high-profile guests. "Oh... I am so bad at it," she said self-effacingly, highlighting her modesty and initial reluctance to take on the gig.
Turning Down the Opportunity Years Ago
Winkleman disclosed that she initially turned down the chance to host her own chat show about fifteen years ago. "I said no about 15 years ago," she explained. "Graham Stuart who runs the company (So Television) with Graham Norton said ‘Would you do a chat show?’. I was like ‘I am not good at that’." She left the offer, but later, Graham Norton himself encouraged her to reconsider.
She added that she believes ego played a part in her eventual acceptance. "I probably said yes because of ego, I don’t know," Winkleman admitted. However, she noted that the series has become easier with practice. "I started it and I didn't like it and now I do quite like it, the more relaxed I got. But it is nerve wracking."
Mixed Reviews and Self-Mockery
The Claudia Winkleman Show launched in March, marking her first-ever chat show venture, but it was met with very mixed reviews. In March, Winkleman joked about the show live on the Heart Radio Breakfast Show, calling the first episode "awful." She told hosts Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston, "The first one was so awful," and after they reassured her, she humorously added, "Everyone needs to stop speaking and listen to aunty Claude."
Continuing her self-mockery, she quipped, "If you mention it again, I'm going to get violent," and laughed, "I suggest people don’t watch [it]. There’s only a few more, let's pretend it never happened." She compared the experience to a disastrous dinner party, saying, "You ever had that? People come round for dinner and you make something disgusting and you go, ‘Never mind, thank you’ and give them a little handshake and you go, 'Let’s wipe it'. You know the machine in Men In Black? The end."
High-Profile Guests and Show Details
Despite her self-criticism, the show has featured an impressive lineup of A-list guests, including Niall Horan, Lisa Kudrow, Jeff Goldblum, Rachel Zegler, and Jamie Dornan. The first season is set to conclude next week with a compilation episode of the initial six shows. The sixth episode aired on April 17, with Dan Levy, Cush Jumbo, Phil Dunster, and Josh Widdicombe joining Winkleman on the couch.
Winkleman concluded by humorously acknowledging her limitations, stating, "There are people who can do this and I'm not one of them." Her candid reflections offer a rare glimpse into the pressures of television hosting and the personal challenges behind the scenes.
