Claudia Winkleman has announced her departure from the BBC chat show she launched earlier this year, citing nerves as the reason for not continuing after its first series. The show, which aired seven episodes, was produced by Graham Norton's production company.
Winkleman, who also hosts "Strictly Come Dancing" and "The Traitors," stated in a release that she was "incredibly grateful" to the BBC for the opportunity and to the guests and production team, but admitted she was "too nervous to enjoy it." She added that while she might consider trying again in the future, she currently has "the best jobs in the world" and loves the shows she is already involved in.
During its run, the show featured interviews with guests such as Lisa Kudrow, Jeff Goldblum, Niall Horan, Rachel Zegler, Ralph Fiennes, James McAvoy, Jamie Dornan, Vanessa Williams, and the incoming "Strictly" co-host Josh Widdicombe. The series attracted an average combined audience of between 1.5 million and 2 million viewers per episode.
Critical reception for the show was divided, with some critics finding it entertaining and "full of banter," while others described it as "messy" and "a bit of a bore."
Ed Havard, Director of Entertainment at the BBC, expressed understanding of Winkleman's decision, stating, "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." He also confirmed Winkleman's upcoming return to the BBC for "The Celebrity Traitors" later this year.