Claudia Winkleman fought back tears as she bid farewell to her BBC Radio 2 show on Saturday.
The presenter, 52, who announced she was leaving her programme after 15 years on air in December, was feeling grateful as she wrapped her final show.
She told her listeners: ‘We’ve come to the end and I’m allergic to goodbyes but I do want to say many thanks yous, I would like to thank Helen and everyone at Radio 2.’
Sounding like she was fighting back tears as her voice quivered, Claudia added: ‘But my biggest thanks are to you the listeners, I have worked in telly for 24 years and I have never been more nervous than I was taking over for Graham [Norton] you were warm welcoming and so lovely to me…
‘I love your weekly messages and updates, I just want to say thank you so much.’
Claudia Winkleman fought back tears as she bid farewell to her BBC Radio 2 show on Saturday
The presenter, 52, who announced she was leaving her programme after 15 years on air in December, was feeling grateful as she wrapped her final show
The host played one final song, saying: ‘This is from me to you, it could only be this…’ before Wonderwall by Oasis began to play.
Some of her final songs included Tiny Dancer by Elton John, Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles and So What by Pink.
Claudia was treated to a surprise recorded message from Liam Gallagher who said: ‘Hi Claudia, it’s Liam Gallagher. Congratulations and thanks for all the support over the years and being a true faithful.’
Claudia announced in December she would be leaving her show, citing a desire to spend more time with her children.
She shares Jake, 20, Matilda, 17, and Arthur, 11, with her film producer partner, Kris Thykier, 50, who she married in 2000.
She will be replaced by comedian Romesh Ranganathan who will present his first show in April.
The media personality explained how it had been an ‘absolute privilege’ to host the show as she thanked her listeners.
She began: ‘I would love to share mind, firstly, I’m going to say it out loud and with vim, I love Radio 2.’
Claudia was treated to a farewell message from her Strictly Come Dancing co-host Tess Daly
Claudia was joined in studio by Romesh Ranganathan and Sally Traffic
Some of her final songs included Tiny Dancer by Elton John, Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles and So What by Pink
Claudia announced in December she would be leaving her show, citing a desire to spend more time with her children (daughter Matilda and husband Kris pictured in 2013)
Claudia will be replaced by comedian Romesh Ranganathan who will present his first show in April.
‘It is an absolute privilege to be here every Saturday, chatting to amazing guests, being with Sally and mainly read your fantastic messages.
‘But here’s the thing and it is such a boring cliché so I apologise. Time is going too fast. My daughter is getting ready to leave home and she was 3 about 5 minutes ago.
‘I still have a little one who wants to be with me. I don’t know how long that will last and I just need to be at home more.
‘So my news at 10 is that I am leaving – but I have two pieces of exceptional news. One – the person taking over is one of the funniest and smartest people on earth.
‘We are going to love listening to him every Saturday at 10. Think of this if you will as an early Christmas present.
‘The one and only Romesh Ranganathan is going to be here from April and he is majestic.
‘Number two, the second piece of good news, is before I leave in March the bosses have said I can play, and I’m unapologetic about this, an obscene amount of this.’
She went on to play Oasis’ hit track You Gotta Roll With it.
In a press release, Claudia added: ‘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.’
Following the news of Claudia’s departure, friends and famous faces sent messages to her, with presenter Rylan Clark commenting on Radio 2’s Instagram post: ‘Gonna miss u claud’, while podcaster and actress Giovanna Fletcher hailed her as a ‘legend’.
Claudia’s exit marks the latest in a number of high-profile presenters leaving or moving slots on BBC Radio, including Ken Bruce, who left Radio 2 in March having presented his mid-morning programme for more than three decades and began a new show on Greatest Hits Radio in April – taking with him his popular music quiz PopMaster.
Romesh said of his new role: ‘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.’
Romesh currently hosts For The Love of Hip-Hop on BBC Radio 2, for which he won the best specialist music show this year at the Radio Academy Aria Awards. He will continue to host the show as well as taking over from Claudia.
The comedian has also fronted a number of series including The Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan, The Ranganation, A League Of Their Own and quiz show The Weakest Link.
Head of Radio 2 Helen Thomas said: ‘I’d like to thank Claudia for entertaining her millions of listeners each Saturday morning with such sparkling wit and great warmth.
‘Radio 2 listeners can rest easy as we’re working on a plan for some specials in the future, so watch this space.
‘I’m delighted to welcome Romesh to his new Saturday morning show on Radio 2.
‘Judging by the audience’s reaction to him at Radio 2 in the Park in Leicester this year, he’s already a firm favourite with our listeners.
‘Like Claud before him, he’ll guarantee your Saturday mornings continue to be an appointment to listen.’
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