Claudia Winkleman has playfully dismissed her latest talk show as “awful” after choosing not to discuss it due to criticism. Her self-titled program debuted last weekend with guests such as Jeff Goldblum, Vanessa Williams, Jennifer Saunders, and Tom Allen.
Following the show, viewers took to social media to share their opinions, with feedback ranging from positive to negative. While some praised Winkleman for her charm and humor with the guests, others found the 45-minute episode dull.
Prior to the second episode airing on Friday, the 54-year-old candidly expressed her true sentiments about the project during an appearance on the Heart Radio Breakfast Show.
When asked about the show by hosts Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston, the former Strictly Come Dancing host declined to discuss it and attempted to divert the conversation.
“I’m not having this conversation,” she remarked. “The first one was so awful.” Despite reassurances from Amanda and Jamie, Winkleman quipped, “Everyone needs to stop speaking and listen to aunty Claud.”
Reflecting on an incident from the show that left her feeling embarrassed, she added, “I clapped a man for moving his ears.”
In a bid to steer away from the topic, Winkleman shifted the conversation to her recent involvement with Crufts, only to be reminded by Jamie that she was there to promote her talk show.
“If you mention it again, I’m going to get violent,” she jokingly threatened. “I suggest people don’t watch [it]. There’s only a few more, let’s pretend it never happened,” she added.
Continuing to poke fun at herself, she remarked, “You ever had that? People come round for dinner and you make something disgusting and you go, ‘Never mind, thank you’ and give them a little handshake and you go, ‘Let’s wipe it’. You know the machine in Men In Black? The end.”
Despite rejecting Amanda’s compliment about the show, Claudia mentioned, “There are people who can do this and I’m not one of them.”
Winkleman’s show has taken over the time slot typically occupied by Graham Norton’s long-running program, which is currently on hiatus. Produced by Norton’s company, So Television, he praised her efforts, stating, “What Claudia did was the Claudia Winkleman Show, and that’s what she’s supposed to be doing. She shouldn’t be trying to be me. She should be trying to be Claudia, and she nailed that.”
The mother-of-three transitioned to the show following her departure from Strictly Come Dancing last year, alongside her longtime co-host Tess Daly. Their replacements have yet to be announced, with rumored contenders including Zoe Ball, Bradley Walsh, and Rylan Clark.
The Claudia Winkleman Show airs tonight at 10.40pm on BBC One.