The star of The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing is now sharing Graham Norton’s Friday evening talk slot, with her own brand new series<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n18:00, 12 Mar 2026<\/span>Updated 18:12, 12 Mar 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
\n![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36858866.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_The-Claudia-Winkleman-Show-London.jpg\")
<\/div>\n(Image: PA)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The opening instalment of Claudia Winkleman\u2019<\/a>s new chat show sees Jennifer Saunders <\/a>confess that she and Dawn French<\/a> once mada plan to take ecstasy together – but were thwarted.<\/p>\nSaunders, who is promoting her new film The Magic Faraway Tree, revealed: \u201cDawn and I once thought we\u2019d be really daring, and we got an ecstasy tablet. We thought one day when we\u2019re alone – we could take half an ecstasy tablet. We kept it on Dawn\u2019s mantlepiece and one day, about six months later, we thought \u2018OK, we\u2019re ready\u2019.<\/p>\n
“We had water, we didn\u2019t know what to expect at all and – the pill had gone! It was quite a relief. No drugs for us.\u201d Fellow guest comedian Tom Allen joked that he knew who\u2019d taken it, quipping: \u201cThe dog was outside jumping up and down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jennifer, 67, shared her story after hearing that Tom, 42, has written a book in which one of the characters, Miranda, had a similar plan even though she\u2019s in her 80s. \u201cShe\u2019s had a bucket list and now she has a f*** it list,\u201d he explains to Claudia. \u201dThat includes taking acid.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\n![\"Claudia](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36858574.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_557583TITLEThe-Claudia-Winkleman-Show.jpg\")
<\/div>\nClaudia has claimed that her talk show could be ‘excruciating’ but it’s a lot of fun(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC\/So Television\/PA Media)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
READ MORE: Gemma Collins finds ‘redemption’ on I’m A Celebrity after being ‘haunted for years’<\/a><\/span><\/span>READ MORE: Ruth Jones unveils her ‘secret weapon’ for playing iconic Mrs Bennet<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nLooking forward to the release of The Magic Faraway Tree on March 27, the Absolutely Fabulous favourite also revealed that bringing her character Grandma Thomson to life had not been straightforward.<\/p>\n
Going into her first rehearsal with co-stars Andrew Garfield <\/a>and Claire Foy<\/a>, she suddenly had the idea of making the role \u201ca little bit Danish.\u201d But after delivering the lines in her best Danish accent, she was informed: \u201cWe love the German!\u201d and so German it became.<\/p>\nJennifer also has words of advice for Hollywood star Jeff Goldblum<\/a>, who is embarking on a UK tour with his band, the Night Blooms. \u201cI love going round Britain on tour,\u201d she told him. \u201cThere\u2019s always a little museum – a pencil museum, a moss museum\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n![\"Jennifer](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36858579.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_The-Claudia-Winkleman-Show-London.jpg\")
<\/div>\nJennifer Saunders tells a funny story about trying to take drugs with Dawn French(Image: PA)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n![\"Jeff](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36858621.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_The-Claudia-Winkleman-Show-London.jpg\")
<\/div>\nJeff Goldblum turns out to be a big fan of pencils(Image: PA)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
It turns out that the actor, 73, is particularly interested in pencils. \u201cMy criminal period when I was eight or nine, I stole other kids\u2019 pencils,\u201d he admits. And asked if he\u2019s going to the Lake District, home of the UK\u2019s actual pencil museum, he laughs: \u201cI am now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claudia\u2019s other guest is actress Vanessa Williams<\/a>, who told of her unusual first meeting with the composer of The Devil Wears Prada musical, Sir Elton John. \u201cThe first time I met him he had just had his first knee surgery,\u201d she explains. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\nIn the trailer for the new series, Claudia tells viewers: \u201cThey\u2019ve given me a talk show. Agreed, an error. It might be excruciating.\u201d But after taking part in the debut episode, comedian Tom said he\u2019d enjoyed the audience interaction along with the chat from the sofa. \u201cIt\u2019s like Question Time for drunk celebrities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Claudia Winkleman Show is on Friday 13th March at 10.40pm, BBC1<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nLike this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on <\/strong>TikTok<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Snapchat<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Twitter<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>YouTube<\/strong><\/a> and <\/strong>Threads<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
18:00, 12 Mar 2026<\/span>Updated 18:12, 12 Mar 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/div>\n (Image: PA)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The opening instalment of Claudia Winkleman\u2019<\/a>s new chat show sees Jennifer Saunders <\/a>confess that she and Dawn French<\/a> once mada plan to take ecstasy together – but were thwarted.<\/p>\n Saunders, who is promoting her new film The Magic Faraway Tree, revealed: \u201cDawn and I once thought we\u2019d be really daring, and we got an ecstasy tablet. We thought one day when we\u2019re alone – we could take half an ecstasy tablet. We kept it on Dawn\u2019s mantlepiece and one day, about six months later, we thought \u2018OK, we\u2019re ready\u2019.<\/p>\n “We had water, we didn\u2019t know what to expect at all and – the pill had gone! It was quite a relief. No drugs for us.\u201d Fellow guest comedian Tom Allen joked that he knew who\u2019d taken it, quipping: \u201cThe dog was outside jumping up and down.\u201d<\/p>\n Jennifer, 67, shared her story after hearing that Tom, 42, has written a book in which one of the characters, Miranda, had a similar plan even though she\u2019s in her 80s. \u201cShe\u2019s had a bucket list and now she has a f*** it list,\u201d he explains to Claudia. \u201dThat includes taking acid.\u201d<\/p>\n Claudia has claimed that her talk show could be ‘excruciating’ but it’s a lot of fun(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC\/So Television\/PA Media)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n READ MORE: Gemma Collins finds ‘redemption’ on I’m A Celebrity after being ‘haunted for years’<\/a><\/span><\/span>READ MORE: Ruth Jones unveils her ‘secret weapon’ for playing iconic Mrs Bennet<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Looking forward to the release of The Magic Faraway Tree on March 27, the Absolutely Fabulous favourite also revealed that bringing her character Grandma Thomson to life had not been straightforward.<\/p>\n Going into her first rehearsal with co-stars Andrew Garfield <\/a>and Claire Foy<\/a>, she suddenly had the idea of making the role \u201ca little bit Danish.\u201d But after delivering the lines in her best Danish accent, she was informed: \u201cWe love the German!\u201d and so German it became.<\/p>\n Jennifer also has words of advice for Hollywood star Jeff Goldblum<\/a>, who is embarking on a UK tour with his band, the Night Blooms. \u201cI love going round Britain on tour,\u201d she told him. \u201cThere\u2019s always a little museum – a pencil museum, a moss museum\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Jennifer Saunders tells a funny story about trying to take drugs with Dawn French(Image: PA)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Jeff Goldblum turns out to be a big fan of pencils(Image: PA)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n It turns out that the actor, 73, is particularly interested in pencils. \u201cMy criminal period when I was eight or nine, I stole other kids\u2019 pencils,\u201d he admits. And asked if he\u2019s going to the Lake District, home of the UK\u2019s actual pencil museum, he laughs: \u201cI am now.\u201d<\/p>\n Claudia\u2019s other guest is actress Vanessa Williams<\/a>, who told of her unusual first meeting with the composer of The Devil Wears Prada musical, Sir Elton John. \u201cThe first time I met him he had just had his first knee surgery,\u201d she explains. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n In the trailer for the new series, Claudia tells viewers: \u201cThey\u2019ve given me a talk show. Agreed, an error. It might be excruciating.\u201d But after taking part in the debut episode, comedian Tom said he\u2019d enjoyed the audience interaction along with the chat from the sofa. \u201cIt\u2019s like Question Time for drunk celebrities.\u201d<\/p>\n The Claudia Winkleman Show is on Friday 13th March at 10.40pm, BBC1<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on <\/strong>TikTok<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Snapchat<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Twitter<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>YouTube<\/strong><\/a> and <\/strong>Threads<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n