Maybe Claudia knew how things stood and did not want to further upset anyone by raking it all up properly so didn't probe. I think further interviewing would have required her to quote his phrases back at him, and that is giving them a second live BBC airing and also giving The Mirror press.
I think, looking back at the article, I can imagine a scenario where the reporter asks him all about the programme but then blows up all the Patsy things. I can believe him saying she should 'pull her head in and start concentrating' because a few judges have said this generally about the celebs. I also imagine that he said he was a bit miffed about her comments about his credentials as a judge and said the thing about 'looking on the internet would show my CV'.
As for the other stuff, it is quite possible that the reporter said ' how does it feel that a two-bit actress from a second-rate show questions you' - and he went on to answer normally, and they just tag it on because he didn't expressly say: "oy you can't call her that"
Who knows when the interview was done anyway? And why slag her off then apologise a bit and then praise her later? He knows it compromises his integrity and wouldn't want to put himself in a position where people will be looking at his marking and not trusting it to be totally impartial. He's a very successful man and worked with so many people in hit Broadway and West End shows, he's won Oliviers for goodness sake. He must know how the business works and have people skills and be above this sort of thing.
It's ridiculous. Without The Mirror, there would be no 'scandals' -they whip it all up like a storm in a teacup and leave other people to clear up the mess. It is very exasperating!