Claudia Winkleman leaves her chat show after seven episodes | Claudia Winkleman

When the BBC revealed Claudia Winkleman was getting her own chat show, she self-deprecated her brand to note that it “could be painful”. However, after just one series, the presenter – not the audience or guests – found the show to be a major ordeal.

The gorgeous host of The Traitors and former Strictly Come Dancing presenter has left The Claudia Winkleman Show after just one series, saying she was “too nervous to enjoy” conversations with the great and the good who visited her sofa.

She said: “I am extremely grateful to the BBC for giving me this opportunity, to the guests who agreed to come and chat with me, and to the production team who were simply excellent.” “Sometimes you have to try something to see how it fits, and I realized I was too nervous to enjoy it.

“Maybe I’ll try again one day, but for now I already have the best jobs in the world and absolutely love the shows I do.”

It’s a surprise move from the broadcaster, who landed the offer after seeing its shares soar to stratospheric levels following the success of The Traitors and its popular series.

Her chat show only launched in March, and only seven episodes have been produced. Winkleman took over her own program after occasionally filling in for Graham Norton, regarded as the UK’s master of orchestration. His show attracts more than 2 million viewers per episode.

Winkleman’s show attracted an average audience of between 1.5 million and 2 million viewers, according to the BBC.

While Winkleman remains a popular figure, her talk show has divided critics.

The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan wrote of the opening episode: “We loved her on the radio, we loved her on Strictly Come Dancing, her son on The Traitors, and wish we could be her when we grow up or at least wear a modicum of her Traitors’ wardrobe.”

“That’s clear. That’s a given. And all of this remains true despite the unholy chaos of the opening segment of Claudia Winckelmann’s show that has been long and loudly announced.”

Her departure appears to confirm the format of chat shows as one of the most dangerous in the television industry, with many high-profile hosts struggling to deal with the pressures and spotlight of small talk, celebrities and a live audience.

Winkelman is not alone in rethinking her role in this format. Fellow host Davina McCall, whose talk show struggled into mainstream status in 2006 when its stock was similarly high, said she has since regretted presenting it in that format.

Winkleman had already experienced the pressures of live interviews early in her career when an S Club 7 publicist interrupted an interview with her on Liquid News, the BBC’s former celebrity news programme.

Many senior TV insiders have wondered whether she would enjoy the format, given its traditional approach to chatting. Winckelmann has always specialized in her knowing appearance and sarcastic treatment of traitors.

As with all television programmes, TV chat shows have faced increasing competition as a result of the growth of digital formats, with a new generation of celebrities preferring new formats such as long-form podcasts or YouTube shows such as Amelia Dimoldenberg’s Chicken Shop Date.

Ed Havard, BBC Entertainment Director, said: “Claudia’s warmth and quick wit make The Claudia Winkleman Show an absolute joy.

“Although we loved the show, we completely respect her decision and would like to thank Claudia and the amazing team at [the show’s producers] So, TV showed the series on BBC.

“As the presenter of the country’s most-watched show, Claudia will be returning to 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 squad of celebrities.”