The Claudia Winkleman Show starts tonight: Here's who is on and what time it all kicks off
Claudia's got a great line up for her debut showClaudia Winkleman makes her chat show debut tonight and here’s everything you need to know, including what time it’s on and who she’ll be chatting to.
The Claudia Winkleman Show replaces Friday night favourite, The Graham Norton Show, so she really does have a big pair of shoes to fill.
It’s a prime time slot and everyone will be waiting to see how Claudia handles it.
Somehow, we think she’ll manage just fine!
Claudia’s got a very swanky new set that completely differentiates her from Graham. Gone is the bright red and purple decor and in its place is lots of dark teal velvet and shiny polished wood.
Very classy.
Here’s what time The Claudia Winkleman Show kicks off and exactly who is on her very first show. Exciting!
The Claudia Winkleman Show tonight: Who is on?
Claudia’s opening show has a great line-up. We’ve got Hollywood A-list to British icons and greats.
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First up on her sexy new sofa is Jeff Goldblum. The Hollywood actor, who is famed for starring in Jurassic Park, is here to tell Claudia all about is other passion; music.
Jeff and his jazz band, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, have a new album out called Night Blooms. They’re also heading on tour across the UK.
While chatting to Claudia, it quickly transpires that Jeff is a big fan of the UK. And pencils.
He tells her: “I love going round Britain on tour. There’s always a little museum. A pencil museum…a moss museum.”
Jeff continues: “I’m very interested in pencils. My criminal period when I was eight or nine, I stole other kids’ pencils… I hoarded and collected pencils until one day someone said, ‘Jeffrey has all our pencils!'”
American singer and actress Vanessa Williams is also in the house for Claudia’s first show. Vanessa is currently on this side of the pond to star in the West End musical, The Devil Wears Prada.
The Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives star plays editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly in the stage adaptation. The music has been penned by Sir Elton John and Vanessa can’t wait to tell Claudia about her first impressions of him.
“He’s so honest, that’s what I love about him. He’s so frank,” she tells Claud. “The first time I met him, we were doing the workshop in January 2024 and he had just had his first knee surgery.
“I walked into the rehearsal room… his sweats were down by his ankles, and he was showing everybody his scar but all I saw was his bum!”
What a sight…
Jennifer Saunders joins Claudia Winkleman
Of course, Claudia has also got a couple of pretty fine British guests on her first show too. Absolutely Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders will be on to chat about her latest movie, The Magic Faraway Tree.
Jennifer stars alongside Nicola Coughlan and Andrew Garfield in the fantasy film. A synopsis of The Faraway Tree reads: “A modern family relocates to the countryside where the children discover a magical tree with eccentric residents. They’re transported to fantastical lands, rekindling their family bond through adventures.”
Jennifer plays Grandma Thompson in the movie, which is in cinemas now. But she has something else to tell Claudia about – and it might shock fans.
Claudia’s fourth and final guest of the night is comedian and former You’re Fired host, Tom Allen. Tom has just written his first novel, Common Decency, and one of the characters, Miranda, brings up a memory for Jennifer.
Tom explains that Miranda is in her 80s and has penned a “[Bleep] it list”, which includes taking acid.
Jennifer reveals: “Dawn [French] and I once thought we’d be really daring, and we got an ecstasy tablet. We thought one day when we’re alone… and it became such a matter of planning as to when we could take half an ecstasy tablet.
“[It was] kept on Dawn’s mantlepiece and one day, about six months later, we thought okay, we’re ready. We had water, we didn’t know what to expect at all and….the pill had gone!
“It was quite a relief. No drugs for us!” Blimey!
What time is The Claudia Winkleman show on tonight?
Claudia has slipped right into Graham Norton’s time slot tonight (Friday March 13, 2026). Like his weekly show, The Claudia Winkleman Show will start at 10.40pm.
It will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with an end time of 11.30pm.
Unlike The Graham Norton Show, Claudia’s does not appear to feature any audience participation. There definitely isn’t a secret lever on her new velvet chair! The first episode doesn’t feature any music performances either.
Could this let it down? We hope not!
