Who Could Be the Next Graham Norton — and Does the BBC Even Need One?

Claudia Winkleman surprised many people when she quit her BBC chat show after just one series. The popular British presenter said she was "too nervous to enjoy it." Her exit has left the BBC wondering who might one day replace its biggest talk show star, Graham Norton — and whether a replacement is even needed. The BBC confirmed it was fully Winkleman's own decision to leave.

Winkleman is best known for hosting The Traitors and the dance competition Strictly Come Dancing. The BBC gave her a chat show because she is funny, warm, and very popular with viewers. Her show even had a fun moment when actress Lisa Kudrow met a fan-favourite Traitors contestant on the show's teal sofa. However, the show only ran for seven weeks before Winkleman decided to walk away.

TV experts say hosting a chat show is much harder than it looks. Anita Singh, arts editor at the Telegraph, said a host must manage conversations, give every guest equal time, and help stars promote their work — all at once. She said Graham Norton makes all of that look easy, but it takes real skill. Singh also noted that Winkleman is best when she can be spontaneous, and a chat show leaves little room for that.

Reports suggest the BBC had already arranged a second series before Winkleman quit. TV reporter Jake Kanter said he fully believes her when she says the show caused her real anxiety and nerves. Former BBC One controller Peter Fincham compared it to a Davina McCall chat show he commissioned in 2006, which also ended after just one series. He said it is actually rare and admirable for a presenter to simply say they didn't enjoy something and stop.

Many people thought Winkleman, 54, was the natural future replacement for Graham Norton, 63. Norton's own production company even helped make her show, which would have been a smart business arrangement. Norton signed a new three-year deal with the BBC in 2025, so his show isn't ending soon. But he has spoken openly about wanting to work less and has already cut down his number of episodes.

Some experts have suggested names like comedian Jack Whitehall or Alan Carr as possible future chat show hosts. But the history of chat shows includes many series that were cancelled quickly — including shows hosted by Lily Allen and Charlotte Church. Hosting a show with your own name in the title puts a presenter under a lot of pressure. Kanter said the Winkleman show was always a bit of an experiment, and all sides can walk away with their heads held high.

There is also a bigger question: does the BBC even need a new chat show? Today, celebrities can promote their work on YouTube, podcasts, and social media instead of traditional TV interviews. Singh said long celebrity interviews have mostly moved to podcasts, where stars feel relaxed and open. She said a TV studio chat show now feels "quite old-fashioned" compared to popular online content.

Still, Norton's show remains very valuable to the BBC. Kanter says it creates viral clips, pulls in large Friday night audiences, and brings excitement to the channel. Fincham recalled that people were asking who would replace David Attenborough back in 2005 — and Attenborough is still making programmes today. His advice was simple: don't panic about finding a successor just yet, because Norton "has got plenty more in the tank."