SHOCK MOVE
Claudia Winkleman quits BBC Radio 2 show after three years as her replacement is revealed as Romesh Ranganathan
The new host admits they're surprised to get the gig
CLAUDIA Winkleman has announced she's quitting her BBC Radio 2 show.
The popular presenter took over the mid-morning Saturday slot from Graham Norton in 2020.
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However, she has decided now is the right time to move on and comedian Romesh Ranganathan will replace her in the spring.
Speaking on her show today, Claudia said: “I absolutely love Radio 2 and it’s been a privilege to host the Saturday morning show for three years. I will miss our amazing guests, our brilliant listeners and the one and only Sally Traffic.
"The truth is my children are growing up inordinately fast so I have decided to follow them around at home before they leave for good. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who works on the show, I will continue to visit with badly made biscuits and will pester the bosses to present the odd special.
"I couldn’t be happier that Romesh is taking over Saturday mornings on Radio 2. He is brilliantly laugh out loud funny, and I’ll listen every single week as my kids beg me to leave them alone.”
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Claudia is officially stepping down in March and Romesh will take over the 10am-1pm window in April.
Award-winning Romesh, who also hosts The Weakest Link, said of his new gig: “In my many years working as a maths teacher thinking ‘what would happen if I gave this up’, I never imagined I’d be sandwiched between Dermot O’Leary and Steve Wright on the UK’s most popular radio station every Saturday morning.
"I’m grateful to Claud for wanting to spend more time with her kids, and enabling me to spend less time with mine, and I look forward to finding out what the nation is up to at that time, as well as speaking to some familiar faces. It’s going to be fun. Probably.”
Claudia, who has busy schedule as the beloved host of hit TV shows Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors, has a long history with the station having made her debut in 2008 as host of comedy quiz series Hot Gossip.
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She followed it with a Friday night's Claudia Winkleman Arts Show, and in 2016 she presented Claudia on Sunday where she remained until the Saturday morning slot became vacant.
Stand-up and panel show favourite Romesh hosts For The Love Of Hip Hop on Radio 2, in which he explores his love of the genre and hopes to introduce it to others.
Fans of that programme can breathe a sigh of relief as Romesh will continue to host it alongside his new gig.
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