The Claudia Winkleman Show: 'Nervous' star's chat show debut defended following cruel backlash
Viewers urged to give presenter 'time to find her feet' on her new series
The Claudia Winkleman Show made its debut on BBC One last night, but the reviews for the first episode of the show aren’t entirely favourable…
Claudia’s new chat show took over the slot previously occupied by Graham Norton. The first episode aired last night (March 13).
However, the dark set, the decision to include audience participation and the chaos of having four guests on the sofa gave viewers plenty to grumble about…
Claudia Winkleman ‘nervous’ as chat show debuts
Speaking at the start of the show, Claudia shared her “nerves” over the new project with her studio audience.
“I’m so nervous I just need to touch people,” she revealed while speaking to the audience before the titles rolled.
As a round of applause rang out, Claudia told them: “You’re so kind,” before welcoming her guests – Tom Allen, Jeff Goldblum, Jennifer Saunders and Vanessa Williams.
Claudia then spoke to her guests for the next 45 minutes of the show, on topics including the colour of the studio’s sofa and Jennifer Saunders considering taking drugs with Dawn French.
Some viewers loved it, some hated it, but many urged those complaining to give Claudia a chance to “find her feet”.
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‘Get her off Friday night TV’
“Can someone else have a chance? It’s the same luvvies, Claudia Winkleman… again,” complained one.
“I really wanted to like it, but the cameras are all over the place. Just have a wide shot that shows the host and the guests. After all the hype, I only carried on watching until the end because Claudia is great, but this was really not good,” said a second.
A third added: “The Claudia Winkleman Show is truly an awful show with a dark, ugly set. I kept cringing every time she opened her mouth. Where’s Graham? Give a more talented person a chance. This is not her natural habitat. Please get her off Friday night TV.”
Claudia will ‘find her feet eventually’
Not everyone hated it, though, with many throwing their support behind Claudia and urging viewers to give her a chance.
“Guests are doing a lot of heavy lifting but I guess Claudia isn’t Graham and will find her feet eventually. She is a natural at engaging,” said one.
Another agreed and said: “People critiquing #TheClaudiaWinklemanShow like it’s meant to be University Challenge hosted by her off of Strictly. It’s light, daft and Claudia’s doing exactly what she does best. Give it a minute, it’ll find its feet.”
A third also felt the same: “There’s a lot of griping about #theclaudiawinklemanshow – how she’s not as good/replacing/same as Graham Norton. It’s a chat show. How much difference did you expect? Knitting, firefighting, underwater welding? She has an engaging way with people and it’ll find its feet.”
‘Claudia is fabulous!’
Others loved it, and revealed they’ll definitely be tuning in next week.
“I actually loved #theclaudiawinklemanshow,” said one fan.”I have not laughed so much in ages. This is why @ClaudiaWinkle is my hero.”
“The Claudia Winkleman Show is great. Different enough from Graham to fill the gaps off-season, but also similar enough that… it’s the exact same chat show formula which we know works perfectly fine. So I can’t imagine why anyone would complain! And obviously Claudia is fabulous,” said a second.
A third concluded: “Claudia brings out the best in the guests, letting them all have their moment. The set was divine, it’s overall just so perfectly Claudia: classic and hilarious. I’m extremely proud.”
In the second episode of her BBC chat show, Claudia Winkleman will welcome comedian Joanne McNally, actor Guz Khan and One Direction star Niall Horan.
Read more: Claudia Winkleman reveals unusual career move out of the spotlight
