Claudia Winkleman urges followers NOT to observe her ‘terrible’ BBC chat present after brutal critiques – swiping ‘let’s fake it by no means occurred’

Claudia Winkleman has urged fans NOT to watch her new BBC chat show, branding it ‘awful’ and swiping ‘let’s pretend that it never happened’. 

The Traitors host recently took the helm at a new chat show, The Claudia Winkleman Show, which saw her joined by a panel of celebrity guests.

Claudia, 54, sat down with Jeff Goldblum, Absolutely Fabulous legend Jennifer Saunders, comedian Tom Allen and The Devil Wears Prada’s Vanessa Williams in the first episode.

However, despite it’s big-budget line-up of guests, not everyone was impressed – with plenty of at-home viewers taking to social media to hit back against the series. 

While many critics were quick to praise Claudia for the ‘warmth’ of her interviewing style, a number took to social media to brand the new series as ‘boring’. 

One online critic had penned: ‘The Claudia Winkelman Show was dreadful, boring and she is not in any way able to ask interesting questions. She only came alive when a dog was on. Stick to Crufts Claudia. This is a big no.’

While another hit out: ‘Very, very boring, and I am a fan of Claudia, usually. All guests very Me-me-me. Not a patch on Graham Norton’s show.’

In the wake of the reviews, when she was asked about the upcoming second episode of the series, she joked that fans should avoid watching any further. 

Speaking on Heart Radio Breakfast, Claudia told Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston: ‘I’m not having this conversation.

‘The first one was so awful. Everyone needs to stop speaking and listen to aunty Claud… I suggest people don’t watch [it]. There’s only a few more, let’s pretend it never happened.

‘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.

‘There are people who can do this and I’m not one of them.’ 

It comes after Claudia was left raving that hosting Crufts had ‘been the best day of her life’ and better than her WEDDING as she joined Clare Balding on Channel 4.

The Traitors host, who worked alongside Crufts host Clare, 55, during her stint in the Celebrity Traitors castle, was seen co-hosting live from around the arena. 

Claudia, 54, had been tasked with interviewing both guests and show dog owners alike as she explored the event, hosted at Birmingham‘s NEC, for the first time. 

Crufts, which sees dogs brought to Birmingham from all over the world to compete against each other, takes place over four days with more than 150,000 visitors.

Hosted at the NEC, aside from arena-worthy events like Best In Show, Fly Ball and Agility, the annual show also features rooms packed with stands where dog lovers can shop for their canine friends, or even meet some new ones. 

After cameras followed Claudia exploring the shopping opportunities, and walking around the event’s first-ever grooming competition, the Piano host was then given a chance to get stuck in with a performance. 

Claudia met with the Southern Golden Retriever Society’s Display Team, a group of 22 dogs and handlers who perform complex walking routines in front of audiences.

The TV host was given an opportunity to try her hand at being a handler for one of the dogs taking part, named Honey, after being given a few minutes of training. 

She told Clare back in the studio: ‘I’m lucky enough to be with the Southern Golden Retriever display team, and they’re going to let me walk with them as they do their routine. 

‘They have been here for 25 years and will be performing on Saturday and Sunday.’

Pointing down towards the floor and showcasing her four-legged partner Honey, Claudia said: ‘Clare, I’m going to be honest with you, I’ve had the best day of my life.’

Clare was then seen questioning Claudia on working with the golden-haired dogs, but Claudia was soon distracted as Honey began wondering off. 

‘Not now, Honey, we’ve had this conversation,’ Claudia could be heard telling the pooch, adding: ‘Honey, remember, we do twirling, sit, good girl!’ 

As Honey continued to walk away from Claudia, the Traitors host continued: ‘Clare, are you ready to be both appalled and alarmed?’ 

‘I’m ready to be impressed,’ Clare responded, as Claudia explained: ‘Everybody else is amazing, this is David and he’s helped me, but Clare, thanks so much for letting me come, that’s all I want to say.’ 

As Claudia got stuck in with the routine, she was soon paces behind the rest of the display team and struggling to keep up – before Honey started jumping up, and refused to sit on cue. 

‘No, no, I love you, please,’ Claudia could be seen telling Honey, with Clare heard giggling back in the studio as Honey continued to follow Claudia despite her instructions to stay put.

‘Remember the deal!’ she added towards the confused pooch, before telling Clare: ‘It’s really going to be fine,’ and removing herself from the routine. 

She heaped praise on the group for their ‘majestic’ routine as they continued to perform her, adding: ‘David is now doing this with both Poppy and Honey because I wasn’t very good. 

‘But there it is, best day of my life. I quite liked my wedding, this is better.’