She was the face of Strictly Come Dancing for nearly two decades alongside her co-host Tess Daly. Claudia Winkleman delighted viewers with her sharp wit and impeccable comedic timing as the nervous dancers took to the stage every week with their latest ballroom routine. So the idea of her fronting her own talk show seemed like an instant hit, but it couldn't be further from the truth.

The mum-of-three came across as stiff and wooden, and much more giggly and chatty than we are used to seeing her on screen. It almost felt like she felt embarrassed by this huge leap of faith, which we were watching crash and burn live on air.

It was clear to see that she was completely uncomfortable fronting the show solo, without anyone other than the guests to riff off of. I feel like she struggled to flourish with hundreds of eyes on her without her best friend by her side.

Her lack of confidence oozed from every word, making everyone cringe as the broadcaster showed off her people-pleasing skills on the main stage. And to no one's surprise, the 54-year-old announced this week that she is quitting the BBC chat show on Thursday (July 16) after just seven weeks on the airwaves.

In a statement, Winkleman said she was "incredibly grateful to the BBC" for commissioning the programme, but had ultimately been "too nervous to enjoy it". She added: "Sometimes, you have to try something to see how it fits, and I realised I was just too nervous to enjoy it.

"Maybe one day I will give it another try, but for now I already have the best jobs in the world and absolutely love the shows I'm doing."

Don't get me wrong, I love Claudia, and I think she's an amazing presenter. But I think behind closed doors, she's actually quite the introvert, and as such, struggles to perform when she's the centre of attention.

All of her other projects are either pre-recorded or meticulously edited to show her in the best light. Fans fall in love with her every year when she returns to Ardoss Castle with her new batch of Traitors.

And it works because she can relax in the space without the fear that she can't ask for another take if she makes a mistake or feels the pressure of hundreds of adoring eyes watching her every move. I was also a huge fan of her BBC Radio 2 mid-morning show, which she hosted from 2020 to 2024.

But this is yet another example of her excelling in a quiet, controlled environment. Even with Strictly Come Dancing, she started off as the host of the BBC spin-off show, It Takes Two, was pre-recorded. She would interview the cast in a separate studio, and the behind-the-scenes episodes would be rolled out over the course of a week.

It took her a further six years before she could build up the courage to step in as a co-presenter on the results show, which is also pre-recorded after the live show on Saturday nights. It wasn't until 2014 that she finally stepped in as the main co-host following Sir Bruce Forsyth's departure.

During that time, she built a solid friendship with Tess, both on and off screen, who helped her build her confidence to present to a crowd, which helped her grow as a broadcaster. But without her friend to guide her on this new venture, she quickly began to panic, and everyone could see it.

I do hope that in a few years' time, when the doting mum has got used to taking on more solo projects, this confidence will grow because she has all the potential to become the BBC's new golden girl.