Graham Norton has broken his silence on Claudia Winkleman’s new BBC chat show this kicked off this month

Graham Norton has shared his thoughts on Claudia Winkleman’s new chat show, which launched last week. Following her departure from Strictly Come Dancing and establishing herself as host of the hugely successful The Traitors, it appeared Ms Winkleman had endless opportunities ahead.

Weeks after exiting Strictly, it was revealed the Head and Shoulders ambassador had secured her own programme, featuring A-list celebrities, with the fresh studio offering a ‘cosy private members club feel’.

Yet, following the inaugural episode, which included guests such as Jennifer Saunders and The Fly actor Jeff Goldblum – who enthused about his preferred pencil on the sofa – the Claudia Winkleman Show garnered divided opinions.

Certain critics adored it and commended the presenter for her ‘warmth’ and ‘wit’, whilst others labelled it “boring”, with one even suggesting the BBC had committed a “huge mistake” with the concept.

Chat show veteran Graham, who has presented his own programme for years with considerable success, has now spoken out about the show. Discussing Claudia’s programme – which the Irishman’s production company, So Television, creates – Graham maintained his friend had ‘nailed it’.

Graham Norton and Claudia Winkleman
Graham Norton has come to the defence of Claudia Winkleman after her new show aired (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: “‘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.”

In the trailer for the new series, Claudia tells viewers: “They’ve given me a talk show. Agreed, an error. It might be excruciating.”

Nevertheless, following his appearance on the opening episode, comedian Tom Allen said he’d relished the audience participation alongside the sofa conversation. “It’s like Question Time for drunk celebrities”, he laughed.

Claudia Winkleman chat show
The new show kicked off this month on the BBC (Image: BBC)

Whilst the programme disappointed some viewers, who insist Claudia could ‘never replace’ Graham, critics expressed mixed opinions, reports the Mirror.

On the whole, they were won over by the spirited presenter, who has succeeded Graham for seven weeks in a new London studio. The Independent awarded the programme three stars for the ‘classy, witty affair that has brilliant potential’ but noted it ‘might need a few tweaks’.

Claudia Winkleman talk show

People had mixed views on Claudia’s new show (Image: BBC)

Yet, whilst emphasising, repeatedly, that they ‘love Claudia’, The Guardian’s critic suggests Graham is simply too formidable to succeed before describing the chat show “a mess”.

Meanwhile, the inews argued Claudia had made a significant error by stepping into Graham shoes. They said: “The Claudia Winkleman Show is one of her first major flops, ignoring her strengths as an unconventional, even bizarre presenter, and forcing her to fit into a mould that has already been perfected by someone else.”

The Claudia Winkleman Show is available to watch on BBC iPlayer