BBC fans beg ‘Bring Alan Carr back’ after Claudia Winkleman’s show is cancelled
With Claudia Winkleman quitting her chat show, fans want Alan Carr’s back (Picture: Matt Crossick/PA Media Assignments)
With Claudia Winkleman’s new chat show landing on the chopping block after just one series, viewers have a demand.
Following a successful debut, The Traitors star was poised for a second season of The Claudia Winkleman Show thanks to impressive ratings and an equally impressive roster of guests.
Alas, Claudia, 54, has said it would be too much right now.
So, to take her slot, fans are begging for the return of a hugely popular late-night show – Alan Carr: Chatty Man.
00:02
02:24
The Bafta-winning programme ran for 16 seasons from 2009 to 2016 on Channel 4 but was ultimately axed due to declining ratings.
Of course, Alan, 50, is still very much a prominent personality on our screens and in our ears, whether it be his renovation show with Amanda Holden, his podcast, or his unforgettable winning stint on Celebrity Traitors.
Chatty Man ran for 16 seasons on Channel 4 and booked huge guests, such as Lady Gaga (Picture: Channel 4)
Viewers have declared ‘it’s time’ for Alan’s comeback (Picture: Channel 4)
But, a decade later, TV fans are still mourning the loss of his chat show, which booked A-list guests galore, from Taylor Swift to Rihanna to Lindsay Lohan, and regularly left the audience in stitches (often due to Alan getting them drunk with whatever booze he’d stashed in his globe-shaped trolley).
Taking to X after Claudia confirmed she was one-and-done with chat show hosting for now, users declared ‘it’s time’ for Alan’s comeback.
‘It’s amazing how much you long for things when they are taken away from you!’, wrote @DPatz13, with @GorePunk92 adding: ‘I miss Chatty Man sooo much’.
However, other users pointed out that Alan is on tour for most of 2027, meaning the chances of him having time to film a weekly TV show are slim.
Still, we’ll keep dreaming and campaigning for his return, because while Alan previously admitted it was ‘getting harder and harder’ to book three guests every week, we’re sure they’d be queueing up now.
As for Claudia’s show, it hit the BBC in March, with celebs like Rachel Zegler, James McAvoy, and Niall Horan gracing her sofa.
Initially, the reviews were mixed from audiences and critics. While some argued that the former Strictly presenter ‘slid into the background’, the viewing figures went up 50% once it landed on iPlayer.
The launch episode had 2.5million views in the first seven days, in comparison to flagship chat show Graham Norton, which received 2.3m in the most recent series.
‘I’m incredibly grateful to the BBC for giving me the opportunity, to the guests who agreed to come and chat to me, and the production team who were simply excellent,’ Claudia said in a statement as she confirmed its end.
She went on to make a candid admission about her decision to leave, which has seen viewers praise her for her transparency.
‘Sometimes you have to try something to see how it fits, and I realised I was just too nervous to enjoy it.
‘Maybe one day I will give it another try, but for now I already have the best jobs in the world and absolutely love the shows I’m doing.’
Claudia admitted she was simply ‘too nervous’ to enjoy her talk show debut (Picture: Matt Crossick/PA Media Assignments)
A TV insider had previously said the BBC was happy to go ahead with the chat show as long as Claudia wanted to.
The source told The Sun: ‘It’s understood that Beeb chiefs are poised to rubber-stamp another series — if that’s what Claudia wants.’
Ed Havard, Director of Entertainment at the BBC said: ‘Claudia’s warmth and quick wit made The Claudia Winkleman Show an absolute joy. Whilst we loved the show, we fully respect her decision and would like to thank Claudia and the brilliant team at So Television for bringing the series to screen on the BBC.
‘As the host of the country’s most-watched show, Claudia will be back on the BBC very soon when The Celebrity Traitors returns later this year, and we can’t wait to see what she has in store for the new band of celebs.’
