Claudia Winkleman has quit her BBC talk show after just one series, which launched earlier this year.
The Claudia Winkleman show saw the 54-year-old presenter interviewing celebrity guests in front of a studio audience. The first episode aired in March and the series featured a total of seven episodes, with guests including Jeff Goldblum, Lisa Kudrow, Ralph Fiennes and Guz Khan.
Winkleman, who stepped down as a presenter on Strictly Come Dancing after more than a decade last December, said she had been “too nervous to enjoy” the talk show and that she “already [has] the best jobs in the world”.
In a statement, the instantly recognisable presenter said: “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.
“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.”
Winkleman presents The Traitors and spin-off The Celebrity Traitors on the BBC - the latter is scheduled to air its second series this autumn - and The Piano on Channel 4.
Her chat show was produced by So Television, the company behind the award-winning The Graham Norton Show.
Winkleman’s show filled the same Friday nighttime slot on BBC One in the gap between series.
She interviewed guests including Jennifer Saunders, Dan Levy and Jeff Goldblum.
Ed Havard, director of entertainment at the BBC, 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.
“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.”
Winkleman presented Strictly Come Dancing alongside Tess Daly since 2010, but the pair announced their departure immediately following the 2025 series, marking the end of an era for one of the nation’s most beloved TV shows.
In a video shared to Instagram, the duo said that “the time is right to step aside and pass over the baton”.
“It’s been a huge part of our lives, hasn’t it? Since our children were literally babies in arms, and now they’re young adults, and I think genuinely, we have cherished every second,” Daly added.
Winkleman said: “We’re so lucky to have been part of this amazing show, and we just want to thank the Strictly team, because Strictly is the people who make it. So thank you.”
