Claudia Winkleman’s BBC chat show ‘being fast-tracked’ after quitting Strictly

Claudia Winkleman is high demand with reports the BBC is really cracking on with work on her own chat show.

The series is set to be produced by So Television, the same company behind The Graham Norton Show, in what looks to be the BBC’s latest attempt to secure its next big entertainment hit.

With Celebrity Traitors ending this week amid Claudia and Tess Daly’s final Strictly Come Dancing series, it’s believed the Beeb is keen to have the talk show on air by spring 2026.

The Traitors is expected to return in January with a civilian series, and it’s thought the new programme would be timed to follow that.

‘Given that Strictly started in September, it means that by the time her new chat show concludes she will have been on our screens almost constantly for eight months,’ a source told The Sun.

‘Work is hugely picking up pace, although the Beeb have yet to fully form the plan and announce it, though they’re expected to reveal more details next month.’

According to a previous report from Deadline, the project would see Winkleman fronting her own primetime talk show during periods when Graham Norton’s show is off-air, ensuring there’s no competition between the two BBC staples.

The format is expected to carry the same mix of celebrity interviews and playful humour that has made Winkleman one of the UK’s most distinctive presenters.

The timing of the development is striking, coming just after Winkleman and Tess Daly announced they will be stepping away from Strictly after this year’s series — a move that reportedly caught BBC executives off guard.

Sources close to production said the broadcaster was ‘blindsided’ by the pair’s social media announcement, noting it as a reminder of the ‘presenter power’ the duo now hold.

Daly, 56, has been on the BBC reality series for 21 years since the show started in 2004, with the Winkleman joining her on the ballroom floor in 2011 – truly marking the end of an era.

Fans immediately wondered why the pair had decided to depart,with one insider telling the Daily Mail that with Winkleman’s career ‘moving up a level’, she is reportedly ready to explore opportunities outside of Strictly.

A chat show like Norton’s would certainly be a new major opportunity for the star.

Winkleman has already tested the waters of the late-night chat format. Earlier this year, she filled in for Norton while he was on break from his BBC duties, winning praise for her relaxed, self-deprecating hosting style.

Opening her first episode, she joked, ‘To be honest, nobody is more livid than me,’ in reference to temporarily taking over Norton’s chair.

If greenlit, the show would further cement Winkleman’s position as one of the BBC’s most bankable stars, alongside her success on The Traitors and Strictly.

So Television — founded by Graham Norton and Graham Stuart and now owned by ITV Studios — has built a reputation for slick, star-studded productions, including Netflix’s Hannah Gadsby: Gender Agenda.

While no official announcement has been made, all signs point to a major new chapter for Winkleman, who appears set to trade the Strictly ballroom for the late-night sofa.

Metro has contacted the BBC for comment.

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