CLAUDIA Winkleman ended up in tears on BBC Radio 2 on Saturday as she hung up her headphones for the final time.
The TV presenter and broadcaster, 52, has worked on the station for over 15 years, joining in 2008. She moved over to the Saturday morning slot in 2021, taking over from the much-loved Graham Norton.
However, after announcing in December she was leaving the show, it seems her final day proved to be a massively emotional farewell – and she choked back tears as she signed off.
“We have come to the end and I am allergic, I don’t know whether you know this (but I’m allergic) to goodbyes,” she told her listeners.
“But I do want to say thank you, many thank yous if that’s alright with you.
“I would love to thank Helen and everyone at Radio 2. I’d love to thank the brilliant people who have worked on this show, specifically Phil, Jeff, and Grace, but there are so many more. But my biggest thanks are to you, the listeners.”
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“I have worked in telly for, I think, 24 years and I’m just being completely honest, I have never been more nervous than I was taking over for Graham,” she admitted.
“And you were warm, you were so welcoming, you were so lovely to me. I love your excellent weekly messages, all the updates.
“So, I just want to say thank you so much. Do me one last favour, be lovely to Romesh and please look after my Sally (Boazman, traffic reporter). This is from me, to you and it could only be this.”
She then played Oasis classic Wonderwall as her time came to an end.
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Romesh Ranganathan will be replacing Claudia in the slot after spending time in the late-night, midnight to 1am weekend slot.
Claudia explained her exit during the announcement in December, putting it down to her wanting to spend time with her 17-year-old daughter, Matilda.
“Time is going too fast, my daughter is getting ready to leave home and she was three about five minutes ago,” she said.
“I still have a little one who wants to be with me, don’t know how long that will last, and I just need to be at home more.”
She will also soon be heading to Scotland to film the new series of The Traitors, which will air next year.
