Claudia Winkleman has decided to end her BBC chat show after just one series, a move that has surprised industry observers and reignited discussions about who might succeed Graham Norton in the popular late-night hosting role.
Winkleman, known for her roles in "The Traitors" and "Strictly Come Dancing," was considered by many to be a potential successor to Norton, whose long-running show concluded its broadcast run in December 2023. However, the format of a multi-guest chat show proved challenging, according to Anita Singh, the arts and entertainment editor for The Telegraph.
"Everyone thought she could pull it off because she's smart and funny, but a chat show with multiple guests is very difficult to handle," Singh told BBC News. "You have to marshal the conversation, give each guest equal time, help them to plug whatever they're plugging, then cue in whatever anecdote they've agreed beforehand with the researchers. Graham Norton makes that look deceptively easy."
Singh added that Winkleman might have improved with more series, but the format offered limited opportunities for her characteristic spontaneity. "I think if Claudia had done a couple more series she would have become better at it. But she's at her best when she's being spontaneous, and the format allows very little space for that."
Despite the challenges, the BBC confirmed it was Winkleman's decision to stop the show. Viewing figures, while lower than Norton's, were considered respectable, and critical reviews were mixed rather than uniformly negative. Sources suggest the BBC was open to commissioning a second series, with an intention for the show to continue beyond its initial season.
"My understanding is they had made a deal beyond one season," Jake Kanter, a reporter for Deadline who covered the talk show, told BBC News. "How formal that was, I don't know. But there was an intention for it to continue." Kanter also stated, "I wholeheartedly believe her that this perhaps didn't work out because of her own concerns and anxiety around the hosting."
The conclusion of "The Claudia Winkleman Show" leaves the BBC without a direct replacement for the established late-night talk show format, prompting questions about whether a successor is needed and who might fill the role. Amelia Dimoldenberg, another personality who has been mentioned in discussions about potential successors, has gained prominence for her own interview style.