Claudia waltzes into Norton show
CLAUDIA Winkleman will replace Graham Norton as the presenter of BBC Radio 2’s hugely popular Saturday morning show next year.
The Strictly Come Dancing co-host, 48, who starts in February, said she was ‘gobsmacked’. Yesterday, she said she had initially assumed the appointment was ‘a massive practical joke’, adding that she was terrified because she had ‘enormous shoes to fill’.
It was revealed last week that Cork’s Norton, 57, is joining the UK’s Virgin Radio as a weekend host next year, following in the footsteps of former Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, 54.
Mother-of-three Ms Winkleman, who earned over €400,000 last year, will present the Saturday morning show all year, including on days when she is on Strictly.
She said in a statement: ‘I’m not often speechless but the chance to be with the wonderful Radio 2 listeners every Saturday has left me, quite frankly, gobsmacked.’
Norton, who earns about €815,000 from the BBC for his radio and TV work, will present his final Saturday programme on Radio 2 on December 19.
He congratulated his replacement on Twitter, writing: ‘You’ll love it!’
Ms Winkleman joined BBC Radio 2 in 2008, hosting the comedy quiz series Hot Gossip before doing the Claudia Winkleman Arts Show on Friday nights.
She has also sat in for Sara Cox on her weekly show.