IT is a new venture for Traitors host Claudia Winkleman, but her much-anticipated chat show will look strangely familiar to fans of the TV sensation.
The Beeb is pumping millions of pounds into the programme and pinning hopes on it becoming one of its entertainment flagships when it launches next month.
Claudia Winkleman’s much-anticipated chat show will look strangely familiar to fans of the TV sensationCredit: BBC
Claudia on Graham Norton’s chat show in 2020Credit: PA
Claudia with Jonathan Ross on Celebrity TraitorsCredit: BBC
That is why bosses have invested heavily in the set design for — and looked to the luxurious Ardross Castle for inspiration.
It will echo the boutique rooms inside pile, where contestants on the BBC One game show are often seen locked in whispered conversations.
An insider said: “Because this is a chat show airing on a Friday night, and is produced by Graham Norton’s company So Television, they want to ensure it isn’t seen as a continuation of his chat show.
“They are making it look and feel very different by bringing in elements which are now synonymous with Claudia — and that starts with the surroundings.
“The chat show set will have the same homely, chic feel of the bar area or billiards room in the castle.
“But it will have that sexy private members’ club vibe, with a mix of modern and heritage, rather than fully lean into the stately home vibe.”
‘It’s a gift’
Claudia will take over the Friday night chat show slot while Graham is on a break from filming, which ensures there will be no scheduling clashes or battling for top guests.
But another standout difference that will set the two shows apart is increased audience participation.
An insider said: “One of Claudia’s greatest strengths is being able to endear herself to people one-on-one and gain a great reaction.
“She has proven how adept she is at dealing with both celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing as well as members of the public on Channel 4 show The Piano. And, of course, she has worked closely with celebrities and non-celebrities on The Traitors.
The chat show set will have the same homely, chic feel of the bar area or billiards room in the castle
An insider
“It’s this gift that they really want to tap into on the new series.”
Announcing The Claudia Winkleman Show, the BBC’s head of entertainment commissioning, Kalpna Patel-Knight, gave some clues as to what is in store.
She described Claudia as having “an extraordinary ability to put people at ease and bring out the very best in them — whether they are global superstars or members of the audience.”
Graham Norton’s show doesn’t often rely on audience interaction.
Instead there is a divide between the audience, the host and guests.
This dividing line will be blurred on Claudia’s show, in a similar way to that seen on US chat shows, though she won’t be sitting behind a desk as American hosts often do.
The “open” vibe will be similar to what was seen on , and it is probably no coincidence that some of the production team used to work on the duo’s ITV hit.
She has proven how adept she is at dealing with both celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing as well as members of the public on Channel 4 show The Piano
An insider
Further proof of how important audience participation will be came when So Television launched a “recruitment campaign” for audience members this week.
The online application form even suggested successful candidates could end up grilling Claudia’s famous guests too.
It states: “If you have a love of small talk and would be up for chatting with our host and celebrity guests during filming, then please fill out this application form ASAP.”
Among the information required of potential audience members is their occupation, handle, hobbies, pets, and whether they have ever won anything or been on TV before.
It also asks for “three facts about yourself.”
The form further confirmed that filming for the show will take place in March and April.
Claudia and Graham host the Eurovision dance show in 2008Credit: Getty
Claudia with co-host Tess Daly on Strictly Come DancingCredit: PA
Claudia on a shoot for The Traitors earlier this yearCredit: BBC
In fact, we understand that the launch date for The Claudia Winkleman Show is likely to be March 13 — and the first show will be filmed on March 2.
The final episode of will be recorded on February 19 and air the next night.
There will then be two compilation shows on February 27 and March 6, featuring the best interviews from his current series.
It gives So Television’s crew and creatives almost three weeks to focus on fine-tuning Claudia’s big debut.
Thankfully, Claudia is prepared for the new task at hand.
Chance to experiment
Not only will she have gained tips from longtime pal Graham, but the pair have worked together for years, once co-hosting TV’s Eurovision Dance Contest in 2007.
Claudia filming Channel 4 show The PianoCredit: Andrew Styczynski
The bar in the TV castle for The TraitorsCredit: Euan Cherry
They get on famously and she even stepped in briefly for Graham on his chat show when he was in last February.
It convinced execs that it was the right decision to give Claudia her own chat show.
Although it has been months in the making, thanks to the huge success of The Traitors, and particularly The Celebrity Traitors, the show was fast-tracked to start next month.
It capitalises on the popularity of The Traitors, which ended on January 23, while also giving Claudia time to finish filming .
There are a number of ideas producers will “test-run” on the new show to see if they work long- term, and there might be further alterations if later series are made.
It is also why the initial run of is just seven weeks long, because it is a chance to experiment in a short burst, then take the learning experiences forward.
Because this is a chat show airing on a Friday night, and is produced by Graham Norton’s company So Television, they want to ensure it isn’t seen as a continuation of his chat show
An insider
Claudia then heads to Scotland in May to start filming the next series of and back-to-back.
In the meantime, the other benefit of her new chat show, on a personal level, is its location in .
The “weekly commute” from her home in central London to the huge TC3 studio at Television Centre won’t be too taxing.
Coincidentally, the White City location in Shepherd’s Bush is where Strictly started out 22 years ago.
Though Claudia was yet to be a presenter back in 2004, the dance contest was still filmed at the Television Centre when she eventually joined in 2014.
It is also home to many including , and , who have only just moved out, and, in the past, coverage of the and classic dramas including .
In TV terms, they are huge shoes to fill, but if anyone can do it, Claudia can.
...and she’s up against Wossy
THOUGH she won’t be competing with chat show king Graham Norton, there is one very familiar adversary Claudia will be looking out for.
Her new TV baby will share the schedules every weekend with ITV’s The Jonathan Ross Show.
Claudia played host to Jonathan when he was a contestant on last year’s The Celebrity Traitors and became known as one of the “big dogs” of the hit competition.
Rossy started his career interviewing guests on The Last Resort on Channel 4 in 1987.
Since 2011 he has hosted The Jonathan Ross Show on ITV, and the 23rd series will start tonight and run well into April, overlapping with Claudia’s.
It means the rival hosts will be competing for A-list stars, but Claudia has one advantage – she is sharing the same guest booker Graham uses on his show to bag some of the biggest Hollywood stars.
Many of them don’t tend to do British programmes.
But big-name guests including Tom Cruise and Jennifer Lawrence have agreed to return after having such a great time with Graham.
It is an experience Claudia will be hoping to provide too – and something traitorous Jonathan might struggle to compete with.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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