Graham Norton has defended Claudia Winkleman after her new BBC chat show received mixed reviews, with some critics branding it a 'bore'. The Claudia Winkleman Show aired over the weekend, featuring guests Jeff Goldblum, Vanessa Williams, Jennifer Saunders and Tom Allen, but was met with lukewarm reception.
Reviews ranged from two stars in The Guardian, calling it 'a mess', to three stars from The Independent, which described it as a 'classy, witty affair' needing 'a few tweaks'. The Telegraph's Anita Singh said the debut suffered from 'first-night nerves' and was 'a bit of a bore'. However, The Sun gave a five-star review, calling it 'endearing' and 'full of fun banter'.
Speaking at the Michael Josephson Farewell Charity Ball in Manchester, Norton said: 'What Claudia did was the Claudia Winkleman show, and that's what she's supposed to be doing. She shouldn't be trying to be me. She should be trying to be Claudia, and she nailed that.' Norton's production company, So Television, produces Winkleman's show.
Some viewers noted similarities between the two shows, with one writing on X: 'The Claudia Winkleman Show is just the Graham Norton Show without Graham Norton.' Another said: 'So Television is Graham Norton's production company... despite a set change, the format is identical.' Others praised the show as a 'welcome contrast' to Norton's programme.
In related news, Strictly Come Dancing professional Carlos Gu praised Winkleman, calling her 'iconic' and 'very witty, very cool'. He said she 'knows her value' and is 'so confident with it'.
