Series opens with comedian and presenter Tom Allen, West End musical star and actress Vanessa Williams, national treasure Jennifer Saunders and Hollywood royalty Jeff Goldblum.
“It’s like Question Time for drunk celebrities” says Tom Allen on all-new The Claudia Winkleman Show which starts on Friday 13th March at 10.40pm, BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Claudia welcomes one and all to the conversation; from the dazzling celebrity couch – Jeff Goldblum, Jennifer Saunders, Vanessa Williams and Tom Allen – through to an audience who are just as much part of the chat. From Trudy, the sofa designer who is responsible for the beautiful couch itself through to Anna the everyday local hero saving toads near her home, and dogs are naturally welcome too!
Jeff Goldblum talks all about his new album Night Blooms and ahead of embarking on a UK tour, Jennifer extolls the joys of the attractions he might find on his travels. She says, “I love going round Britain on tour. There’s always a little museum. A pencil museum…a moss museum.” Jeff stops her there. She had him at pencils. “I’m very interested in pencils,” he says and continues, “my criminal period when I was 8 or 9, I stole other kids’ pencils… I hoarded and collected pencils until one day someone said, ‘Jeffrey has all our pencils!’” He’s quick to point out he’s not a fan of a mechanical pencil and further exploring his obsession, audience member Amy – a pencil designer, as luck might have it – spoke on the variety of pencils she’s been involved in producing. Her range does include a mechanical pencil to which Jeff says “well, I’m open minded but…I don’t like it!” She could confirm that there is indeed a pencil museum and it’s in the Lake District. “Are you going to the Lake District?” enquires Jennifer. “I am now!” his quick response.
Moving to discussing his acting, Jeff reveals that when he thinks a take is good he’ll look down the lens to let the editor know that was a good one. Speaking about filming Wicked he says, “I was trying to do a good job and sometimes as is my wont to do, after a take I would go ‘Myron Kerstein, I say that’s a good one’.” Claudia happily allows Jeff to do the same with show editor, Steve and he directs “I think I’ve been lively tonight, Steve, and I say any genuine moment, I especially like the spontaneous ones where there’s a real connection which I’ve felt strongly with us. I say, so far, anything is good for the show.”
Looking forward to the release of her new film, The Magic Faraway Tree, Jennifer Saunders shares the process of bringing her character Grandma Thomson to life. Going into her first rehearsal with co-stars Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy and the children she thought “do you know I might go a little bit Danish.” After delivering her best Danish inflection she was told “we love the German!” and so German it is.
Vanessa Williams reveals her love for the composer of The Devil Wears Prada musical, Sir Elton John, along with their unusual first meeting. “He’s so honest, that’s what I love about him. He’s so frank. The first time I met him – we were doing the workshop in January 2024 – and he had just had his first knee surgery. I walked into the rehearsal room; his sweats were down by his ankles, and he was showing everybody his scar but all I saw was his bum!”
Also treading the boards in the West End, Tom Allen spoke about taking on the role of Ruth in Titanique leading to Jeff Goldblum wistfully looking on and commenting “you look like a very young handsome John Travolta!” Tom goes on to discuss his debut novel, Common Decency, a tale inspired by suburban life and the secrets and lies behind assumed mundanity, he says, “suburbia is sort of a boring place that everyone ignores but actually I’ve realised that’s where all drama happens.”
He continues, “I live in Bromley which is archetypal suburbia, and I’ve come to love all those trappings like the WhatsApp group. It’s supposed to be to help your neighbours but really, it’s a load of idiots shouting nonsense into the wind!”
“The only time I like it is when people say they’re putting furniture out on their driveway. Something I like to call ‘street tapas!’”
Returning to his book, he speaks about the character of Miranda – “she’s someone who – even though she’s in her 80s – wants to experience all of life. She’s had a bucket list and now she has a fuck it list! That includes taking acid. I just think that if I make it to an old age, rather than going out with a whimper wouldn’t it be great to experience acid!”
The character’s story brings forth Jennifer Saunders near drug-taking experience as she reveals, “Dawn [French] and I once thought we’d be really daring, and we got an ecstasy tablet. We thought one day when we’re alone… and it became such a matter of planning as to when we could take half an ecstasy tablet. We kept it on Dawn’s mantlepiece and one day – about six months later – we thought okay, we’re ready. We had water, we didn’t know what to expect at all and….the pill had gone! It was quite a relief. No drugs for us!” However, Tom Allen suspects a culprit and quips ‘the dog was outside jumping up and down!’
For further enquires please contact lucy.waller01@bbc.co.uk / susan@plankpr.com
All images available from PA
The show is produced by So Television and Little Owl and ITV Studios is the distributor.
Join us…
Have you got something to celebrate?
Or a unique passion, or profession?
Get in touch:
CASTING@SOTELEVISION.CO.UK
and you could end up becoming a part of the show…
Please note that unfortunately, due to the volume of applicants, we will not be able to respond to everyone. Filming will take place on weekdays in London, throughout March and April 2026. Whilst some audience might be filmed during the recording of the show, we cannot guarantee contribution will be shown on air. UK based. Over 18s only. For information about how we’ll use your personal information, please read our privacy notice: itv.com/studiosprivacy
