Claudia Winkleman quits her high-profile new BBC chat show after just one season: It was launched to massive hype after Strictly chaos… but now she tells ALISON BOSHOFF exactly why she’s walked away

Claudia Winkleman walked away from her high-profile BBC chat show saying she was “too nervous to enjoy it”.

Claudia, 54, took up the job after leaving Strictly Come Dancing, the jewel in the BBC’s crown that made her the most successful female presenter on television. The Claudia Winkleman Show launched with great excitement in March.

Ratings were healthy and received a mostly positive response from critics, so he was offered a second series of chat show by the Beeb.

But after taking some time to think and filming a new series of Famous Villains earlier this summer, it could be revealed that he’s decided he doesn’t want to continue.

Claudia told me yesterday: ‘Sometimes you have to try something on to see how it fits, and I found I was too nervous to enjoy it.

‘Maybe one day I’ll try again, but for now I have the best jobs in the world and I absolutely love the shows I do.’

He added: ‘I’m incredibly grateful to the BBC for giving me this opportunity, to the guests who agreed to come and chat with me, and to the production team who are simply brilliant.’

BBC entertainment director Ed Havard said: ‘Claudia’s warmth and wit made The Claudia Winkleman Show an absolute delight. While we love the show, we completely respect her decision and would like to thank Claudia and the wonderful team at So Television for bringing the series to the BBC.

‘As the presenter of the country’s most-watched programme, Claudia will soon return to the BBC when The Celebrity Traitors returns this year and we can’t wait to see what she has in store for the new crop of celebrities.’

Claudia’s seven-part chat show series aired on Friday nights from March 13 and is produced by So Television, which is also behind Graham Norton’s hugely popular chat show.

Some thought Claudia’s show wasn’t very successful because she was “too nice and modest” to combat Hollywood’s giant egos.

Others have argued that female chat show hosts rarely manage to connect with their guests and viewers, citing previous short shows pioneered by Davina McCall, Charlotte Church and Ruby Wax.

In an interview before the first show, he told the Daily Mail’s Weekend magazine: ‘I’m not sure I’d be very good at it, that’s the truth.’ Stating that he lacked ‘curiosity and energy’, he added: ‘I like to sleep. My Vim is running low. So yes, it is problematic. I’ll tell you what happens. Your headline is: “A Disaster”.’

But at first she thought The Traitors was also a disaster, she continued: ‘I called my husband from the Scottish castle, carrying ceremonial pouches and red leather fingerless gloves I bought on Amazon, and said, ‘I’ve done a good job, this is where it ends.’ ‘That’s how I feel about this show.’ Of course, Traitors was and continues to be a huge hit.

While Claudia’s chat show occupies the same Friday night slot as Graham Norton’s, it runs in the autumn and winter months when film stars are campaigning for the awards. This means he regularly attracts the attention of Hollywood stars (he even got an invitation to Taylor Swift’s recent wedding after seating her on his sofa).

Claudia’s guests were slightly less stellar. She was joined on the green velvet sofa by Jeff Goldblum, American actress Vanessa Williams, Jennifer Saunders, Schitt’s Creek creator Dan Levy and comedians Tom Allen and Josh Widdicombe.

Claudia is known for hosting The Traitors, a popular social deduction game show. Earlier this summer he filmed a new series of The Celebrity Traitors at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands.

In an episode of the chat show, Claudia Winkleman spoke to (LR) Dan Levy, Cush Jumbo, Phil Dunster and Josh Widdicombe.

In another episode, Claudia (LR) was seen talking to Lisa Kudrow, Jamie Dornan, Chase Infiniti, and Jimmy Carr.

The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan called the first episode “a mess” in a two-star review, but The Telegraph’s Anita Singh said the episode arrived “on a wave of goodwill”, with the presenter approaching “national treasure status” despite appearing to suffer from first-night nerves.

Claudia made a joke about breastfeeding her dog, chatted with the audience and thanked her guests ‘for coming to the first and probably last show’. Goldblum said with characteristic charm that it would be “the longest-running show ever.”

Some observed that Claudia had seemingly found her style by the time the series ended.

He currently continues to present The Traitors and its spin-off The Celebrity Traitors, as well as The Piano on Channel 4. This year he also appeared on Channel 4’s Crufts broadcast for the first time; He cares deeply for his King Charles Spaniel, Skip.

He and Tess Daly were the long-serving presenters of the BBC’s flagship entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing and last year announced they were stepping down after two decades at the helm.

It was certainly rocked by a series of scandals, including allegations of professional dancers using drugs and acting abusively towards contestants.

Professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano di Prima left the show; After the latter, allegations emerged that he kicked his partner Zara McDermott. Pernice was investigated by the BBC for complaints about bullying by her partner, actress Amanda Abbington, some of which were confirmed.

Claudia and Tess said none of this was a factor in their split, but instead explained that they felt it was time to step aside.

Claudia and Tess Daly were long-serving presenters of the BBC’s flagship entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing and last year announced they were stepping down after two decades at the helm.

In a video accompanying their written statement on Tess Daly’s Instagram account in November, the duo said they decided the time was right.

Claudia said: ‘Hi, I’m Claud and Tess. There have been some rumors and we want you to hear it from us.’

Tess added: ‘We’ve got news. After 21 absolutely wonderfully joyful years, we’ve decided it’s time to step aside and pass the baton.’

“It’s a very sparkly baton,” Claudia added.

Tess went on to explain: ‘This was a big part of our lives, wasn’t it? ‘From when our children were literally babies in arms and now to young adults, I really think we cherish every second.’

Claudia later said: ‘We did it. ‘We’re so lucky to be a part of this amazing show and we’d like to thank the Strictly team because Strictly are the people who make it.’

Despite rumors that it was Claudia who decided to leave and Tess opted to join her to avoid humiliation, friends of the pair say they began discussing the idea of ​​leaving a year ago and have been “cooperative” every step of the way.

Tess launched Strictly with the late Sir Bruce Forsyth in 2004, while Claudia helmed BBC Two spin-off show It Takes Two. She took over from Sir Bruce in 2014 and the pair made history as the BBC’s first all-female presenting duo. They also formed a close bond away from the cameras.

Claudia’s chat show had already started at that point, having filmed a pilot episode over a year earlier that was not yet set to air. Sources said the plan is for a “super high-end” series that will be groundbreaking.

But even though the series didn’t live up to initial hopes, Claudia remains one of the most reliable hosts on television.