Claudia Winkleman quits BBC talk show and blames 'nerves' for her surprise exit
There will not be a second seriesClaudia Winkleman has quit her own talk show with the BBC – and blamed her ‘nerves’.
The former Strictly Come Dancing host, 54, slid into Friday night’s schedule earlier this year with the chat show.
Claudia interviewed big name stars in a plush new studio, including Friends actress Lisa Kudrow and Jamie Dornan
But she has already pulled the plug and confirmed there will not be a second series.
Claudia Winkleman quits BBC talk show after one series
Claudia announced the shock news that she was walking away from The Claudia Winkleman Show today (Thursday July 16. 2026).
The TV star – who hosts The Traitors – told Mail+ that her nerves have got the better of her, so she is quitting after one series.
Claudia told the publication: “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.
“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.”
The Claudia Winkleman show launched on BBC One in March this year. She slipped into Graham Norton’s shoes, who is currently on a break from The Graham Norton Show. That will return later this year.
Claudia’s first guest were Jurassic Park star Jeff Goldblum, American actress Vanessa Williams. Brits Jennifer Saunders and Tom Allen also joined her for a natter.
But ahead of the series launch, Claudia did hint that she’d been feeling anxious about it.
Claudia’s fears for The Claudia Winkleman Show
The Claudia Winkleman Show came less than three months after Claudia and Tess Daly had bowed out of Strictly. She did host The Traitors in January, but that had been pre-recorded months in advance.
Although not live, Claudia did share her fears at holding court on her own.
“I can’t quite believe it and I’m incredibly grateful to the BBC for this amazing opportunity,” she said, when the BBC announced The Claudia Winkleman Show.
“I’m obviously going to be awful, that goes without saying, but I’m over the moon they’re letting me try.”
The first few episodes were met with mixed reviews from fans. But by the end of the series run, which was seven episodes, Claudia appeared to have won audiences around.
However, there were some complaints about the “calibre” of the guest list.
“It will live and die on the strength of her guests,” one viewer wrote on X at the time.
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