Entertainment29 December, 20252 min read
BBC Commissions Claudia Winkleman to Host New Chat Show in Spring 2026
BBC to launch her chat show on BBC One and iPlayer in spring 2026 So Television, producers of The Graham Norton Show, will produce the new series
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New BBC chat show
The BBC has commissioned a new primetime chat show fronted by Claudia Winkleman, set to launch on BBC One and iPlayer in spring 2026. Multiple outlets report the programme will follow a classic sofa-and-studio-audience format and is produced by So Television, the company behind The Graham Norton Show, with the BBC framing it as a Friday-night style entertainment slot replacement or seasonal complement. Broad descriptions across sources are consistent about timing, format and production house, though some outlets add episode counts or production partners not mentioned in every report.
“Claudia Winkleman will host a new chat show on BBC One and iPlayer in spring 2026, produced by So Television (the company behind Graham Norton’s show).”
Claudia Winkleman show scheduling
Several reports link the new show directly to The Graham Norton Show’s schedule. Deadline and other outlets say the Claudia Winkleman Show is being scheduled when Norton is off-air to avoid clashes. Some outlets expressly connect the commission to Norton’s established Friday-night slot.
Tabloid and entertainment sites suggest Winkleman could occupy that coveted Friday slot during Norton’s seasonal breaks. Production coverage, however, emphasises planning to avoid a clash rather than presenting it as a direct handover.
Winkleman's career and appointment
Outlets consistently highlight Winkleman’s profile and recent career moves, noting she recently stepped away from Strictly Come Dancing after more than a decade. They also point out that she hosts The Traitors and has been recognised with an MBE, details sources use to frame her as a credible successor for a high-profile chat slot. She is quoted across reports as saying she’s 'incredibly grateful' for the opportunity and joking that she’ll 'be awful' (or 'obviously be awful' in some accounts), language outlets use to convey her self-deprecating tone.
“The appointment follows her departure from Strictly Come Dancing, which she presented with Tess Daly for more than a decade...”
Praise and production role
Production companies and BBC commissioners are quoted praising Winkleman's style and fit for the slot. Sources reproduce BBC and So Television comments about her warmth, wit and ability to put guests at ease.
Radio Times and ATV Today use emphatic language, calling her 'a true national treasure.' Deadline also notes Winkleman's Little Owl as a production partner alongside So Television, adding a layer of creative involvement beyond presenting.
Coverage by outlet type
Coverage differs by outlet type: tabloids and entertainment sites stress speculation and slot gossip, trade and industry outlets supply production specifics, and local and regional outlets add human-interest details such as honours and Winkleman's career origins.
“Winkleman said she was 'incredibly grateful' for the opportunity and jokingly warned she'd 'be awful,' while Kalpna Patel-Knight... praised her warmth, wit and ability to put guests at ease.”
Readers should note where articles quote the BBC or production executives (official statements) versus where they report speculation or frame the story as conjecture.
