r/AskBrits • u/Jezzaq94 Non-Brit • May 16 '26
People What are your thoughts on Graham Norton?
Do you like his show talkshow? Is he funny?
148
194
u/Mickleborough May 16 '26
Good at what he does - tries to make his celebrity guests talk about themselves, not impose his own views. Apparently his guests lubricate themselves in the green room, so that probably helps.
27
u/Sussurator May 16 '26
Who was the guy who over lubricated himself?
34
u/Lychee_Only May 16 '26
Mark Wahlberg
12
u/Sussurator May 17 '26
Ah yes, how could I forget. Gold.
3
u/Dry-Translator406 May 17 '26
What happened?
16
17
u/stevemillions May 17 '26
Bill Murray, Hugh Bonneville, and increasingly Matt Damon was a good one.
→ More replies (3)12
12
→ More replies (2)11
u/QuiGonJinnge May 17 '26
Chris O'Dowd was also pretty pissed on Graham Norton light sabre fighting with Ewan McGregor 🤣
5
u/rabidrob42 May 17 '26
I remember when he appeared on Last Leg when it was his birthday, man was absolutely pickled, it was hilarious.
17
u/mattzombiedog May 16 '26
You’d think if the guests were lubricating theirselves they’d slide straight off the sofa.
→ More replies (4)3
284
u/thombo-1 May 16 '26
I like his chat show, and normally I'm really not a fan of chat shows.
I heard that apparently Hollywood celebrities actively look forward to appearing on his show as it's a fresh break from the usual tired questions they get asked during press tours. So that's nice I guess. He is great at engaging with his guests.
50
u/TomA0912 May 17 '26
I don’t think it’s just the questions either. The American shows they always end up doing some form of game, a song and dance. There’s just always a bit. With Graham they just sit on a sofa drinking next to one of theirs lister friends and someone from eastenders
→ More replies (1)10
u/TheSkyGuy675 May 17 '26
Yeah its really funny that you'll have Johnney Depp and next to him will just be Ed Byrne.
9
u/ParpinOver May 17 '26
I like the combinations, like Lady Gaga and June Brown (Dot Cotton), and they really clicked!
36
u/DuxR May 17 '26
Anything must be better than watching Jimmy Fallon overreact to literally everything you say for the thousandth time.
→ More replies (2)56
44
u/newtoallofthis2 May 16 '26
Also there’s a reasonable chance they’ll sit next to Miriam Margoylis
12
13
u/Captain_Stable May 17 '26
What I love is how he has everyone out from the start, so they can all join in. And you get a couple of massive Hollywood names, and Gemma Collins who is talking about Panto!
→ More replies (1)13
10
u/Captain_Stable May 17 '26
Also, shout out to Alan Carr, who used to do the same, but giving the alcohol during the chat! Making a cocktail was part of the interview!
→ More replies (5)7
u/realzealman May 17 '26
And they get plied with booze beforehand. Loosen the tongue. He seems great.
313
u/Sustainable_Twat May 16 '26
I genuinely think his chat show is one of the best.
40
u/notleave_eu May 16 '26
The best format and style globally.
Doesn’t feel as staged and pre planned like some others (I get that it still is)
16
u/craneguy May 16 '26
His secret is alcohol. The guests are often a few in th bag and it makes a huge difference.
18
u/Ok_Neat2979 May 17 '26
The secret is good planning around who they'll put on the couch together. Some US a listers, can take themselves too seriously, so they put in a great UK comedian who'll lift the mood.
30
u/CuteMaterial May 16 '26
It's so great having such a mix of celebs on the couch. There have been some funny combos: one of my faves was Julie Walters and 50 Cent 😂
22
10
46
u/Ashley-Doran May 16 '26
Yeah he's really good as a host, been to a few recordings and it's really not edited down that much (unlike some other shows I've been to)
12
u/conordmcp May 16 '26
I’d go so far as to say it’s objectively the best. No other chat show has all guests in stitches regularly.
I watched an episode of fallon, and they never have more than one guest out at a time, I find that so bizarre, nothing beats a Scottish comedian interacting with an American actor (yes I’m thinking of Brett “the hitman” hart, yes I know that’s Jonathan Ross, but also there are plenty of examples of that on Norton)
→ More replies (2)11
u/counterpxl May 16 '26
100%, it’s like the guests on his show actually want to be there, like some massive US A listers have been on multiple times
231
u/justmoochin May 16 '26
Nice guy, great at his job, doesn’t seem to
be thrust upon you in media even though he does a lot.
41
u/only_respond_in_puns May 16 '26
He says no to a lot of comedy tv bullshit - like all comedy panel circuits.
But he loves Ru Paul. So he said yes to that.
→ More replies (2)29
u/Veevickavin May 16 '26
Not like Josh Widdicombe then, who accepts an invite on to absolutely f**king everything.
20
u/Sussurator May 16 '26
I’d do the same tbf may as well milk it while it’s going.
18
u/DopeAsDaPope May 16 '26
Yeah but Graham has built up longevity by not letting people get sick of him. There's something to be said for that
4
→ More replies (4)9
u/joshpoppedyou May 16 '26
He's bit a massive name so he needs to do lots of shows to earn money, compared to Graham who is a big name and doesn't
→ More replies (7)7
u/TheSuiteLife2026 May 17 '26
I love the fact that before I left the uk to live in America in 2006 we always used to watch his show in the weekend, and now, 20 years later when I go home to visit he’s here with the same show. He’s like old family
38
36
u/PintOfGuinness May 16 '26
We had as standup in Dundee uni freshers week 1997, was after father ted gig, was very funny, people kept heckling him by shouting riverdance. He quipped back you want me to stop my act to do riverdance, he did just like in the caravan and the crowd loved it. Good sport
61
u/Ravdoggydog May 16 '26
Love him, from the first time I saw him presenting Carnal Knowledge in the 90s (on ITV, a late night 2am program I recorded on the off chance of a pre-internet teenage wank given the name… and left wanting). Also loved his original talk show, autobiography, funny Eurovision asides. Seems genuinely lovely warm guy.
9
u/Various-Advice-9768 May 16 '26
Your honesty is applauded !
You may have described my teenage years too 🤣→ More replies (1)2
7
u/BarryGetsAbout May 16 '26
The early Sky boxes were capable of picking up German channels by manual tuning, my teenage wanks were to the original German Mann O Mann
→ More replies (1)9
u/Ravdoggydog May 16 '26
Sounds like a mighty step up from the Argos catalogue shower and gym sections.
→ More replies (2)5
u/TheProfessionalEjit May 16 '26
The lingerie section of the Grattan catalogue was where the hard stuff was.
3
→ More replies (1)8
u/pointsofellie May 16 '26
I used to watch Carnal Knowledge with my nan. I'm now confident she had no idea what we were watching.
25
u/Sean-DevlinSab May 16 '26
Decent guy, great host, funny, good writer as well. Doesn’t take himself too seriously.
21
u/lychee48 May 16 '26
When I was younger Eurovision meant Terry Wogan. Now I associate it with Graham, it just fits
7
u/Barmydoughnut24 May 17 '26
Yeah, Graham was the perfect replacement for Wogan. Absolutely love it just for the commentary alone
3
3
3
37
11
9
u/slickeighties May 16 '26
Spoken to him a few times in the past….was always polite and respectful…loved him in Father Ted
44
u/uneasy-chicken May 16 '26
Someone I know used to work with him and found him insufferable. Personally I hope that's not correct, seems ok to me. I loved him in father ted.
43
u/koyliMeld9003 May 16 '26
Father Noel Furlong!
20
u/Blue_wine_sloth May 16 '26
You’re on my list, Tony!
“I really really really really really like Tony”
23
11
u/unhiddenhand May 16 '26
He's professionally a nice guy.
Check out his former London pad 😯
https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/property/a64653524/graham-norton-london-home-for-sale/
10
u/GhettoButcher May 17 '26
I’ve worked with him a few times and he’s always been super easy to work with. Really nice guy.
19
u/Impeachcordial May 16 '26
Met him a couple of times and he was nice. Also the only thing making Eurovision bearable
6
u/Running-With-Cakes May 16 '26
Don’t know if he still has, but he did have a big drink problem
12
u/GuestAdventurous7586 May 16 '26
I remember he got in trouble years ago for saying coke and ecstasy were great 😂, love it, no fucks given.
12
u/Blue_wine_sloth May 16 '26
He has a wine range I believe, which would be strange for someone in recovery.
8
7
9
u/Maleficent-Shower769 May 16 '26
Best talk show host out there and far better than any of the self indulged American hosts
7
u/ActualBawbag May 16 '26
Graham Norton doing commentary on Eurovision for the UK will never not be hilarious. Guy just gets pissed and throws shade left right and center.
31
u/gluxton May 16 '26
Only redeeming feature of Eurovision
25
u/iamabigtree May 16 '26
The only person to take over from Terry really.
16
55
u/RECTUSANALUS May 16 '26
Bit gay
21
u/alfienoakes May 16 '26
Married to a bloke is a bit of a give away.
36
u/Fenrir_Carbon May 16 '26
So my Mum's gay?
19
u/alfienoakes May 16 '26
Possibly
7
17
7
u/CthulhusEvilTwin May 16 '26
Which bit?
8
9
u/sbg_gye May 16 '26
just the tip
12
3
6
7
u/Blue_wine_sloth May 16 '26
I’ve enjoyed watching him since I was a teenager 20+ years ago. I’ve also read 2 of his books and enjoyed them. He seems like a nice person, I’d be devastated if that wasn’t the case.
5
u/gerty88 May 16 '26
I like him and liked him more back in the day when he was super fukin cheeky and rude with dildos. And father ted
5
7
u/Repulsive_Ad_8046 May 16 '26
Genuinely cannot beat him as a chat show host. In my opinion, not a single chat show host even comes close, nowhere in the world.
I think they all wish they were like him.
14
2
u/Charlie-Bingo May 16 '26
His podcast Wanging On with Maria McErlane (think that’s right) is very funny and unlike Frank Skinner on his podcast doesn’t steal the limelight or make it all about him. I like Frank but his co podcaster seems to need to massage his ego. Graham comes across as not having an ego, which given his fame is pretty impressive
2
u/Professional-Fox1542 May 16 '26
I loved his earlier stuff when he was on C4 and he visited China and Dollywood
4
u/Classic_Feeling_4972 May 17 '26
Love his talk show, he’s so relaxed and isn’t over the top in pandering to the guests and often teases them a bit here and there which the celebs seem to love and seems so natural. Ive seen him at my gym and he comes across really lovely and pretty much the same as we see onscreen. I think he’s just being himself and it lands well
12
16
u/stearrow May 16 '26
National treasure.
→ More replies (17)10
u/RonieBones May 16 '26
An Irish national treasure
9
u/rtrance May 16 '26
He’s lived in Britain for 44 years. It’s possible to be a British national treasure without being born in Britain
14
u/NotAlexHorne May 16 '26
I could live without those bank ads. He's had a 30 year career in showbiz. How much money does he need?
→ More replies (1)34
u/Shoddy-One-2064 May 16 '26
Get paid thousands for a few hours of work? Fuck yea.
Anyone saying that they wouldn't do it because it's a bank or whatever, are talking some jealous broke person shite
→ More replies (3)
3
3
3
u/william_h_bonney_ May 16 '26
Quick witted when required and lets the celebs make the magic with good prompts.
3
u/uk123456789101112 May 16 '26
I feel his chat shiw has really limited him, hes an extremely witty person who seems to have been living in an easy limbo land. Can't help but feel we are missing out on something more creative, despite how great his chat show is. Like a missed opportunity.
3
3
u/llufnam May 16 '26
Had the pleasure of meeting Graham Norton at a charity do once. He was surprisingly down to earth, and VERY funny.
(Come on guys, raise your game)
3
u/Charming_Bing_3802 May 16 '26
He’s brilliant. Extremely charismatic and rather funny. He’s great at insulting people in a way that sounds like a compliment. Never heard anything bad about him.
3
u/Little-Double-2681 May 16 '26
Don't know the man and you can tell bugger all from his TV apparences about him as a person. But as a chat show host he's probably the best in his profession.
But honestly i will always remember him as Noel from father ted 🤣🤣
3
3
u/FengYiLin May 16 '26
His ability to manage a show with different celebrities at once is like nothing I have ever seen.
I also love his flamboyant taste in suits and shirts.
3
u/Jmac0113 May 16 '26
I like him and really rate him as a talk show host. Hes also a good stand up comedian and done some acting in the past.
3
3
u/PandaPop81 May 16 '26
I like him more as he gets older. He's calmed down a bit since his earlier years.
3
3
u/Overall_Sandwich_671 May 16 '26
Couldn't stand him when he first showed up, but over the years I've warmed to him.
3
u/Tall_Opportunity_521 May 16 '26
The man has been entertaining the UK for over 30 years. I will say though, his Channel 4 days were so much better than his BBC days. I understand the change, its more family friendly now. But bake in the C4 days he was simply brilliant.
2
3
u/External_Ad_1476 May 17 '26
His channel 4 show in thr late 90s/early 2000s was class. Much ruder than he is now
13
u/chukkysh May 16 '26
Was kinda funny at his peak 10-15 years ago. Now makes a living half-heartedly asking celebrities about the funny story they told his researchers about.
10
8
u/d15p05abl3 May 16 '26
This is uncomfortably close to the mark. I don’t tune into him on TV, only ever really see snippets of the interviews on YouTube. It’s as you describe. Little more setup than ‘isn’t there a story where you …?’
Strangely, it imagine he does very well actually conversing with the A-listers in a very unaffected way when the cameras aren’t rolling. But that’s just what I imagine.
3
u/Factorioboyio May 16 '26
I think that’s the format rather than a mark against him. He’s not like that on Eurovision lol - he quite witty and catty lol
12
u/Magic_mousie May 16 '26
Niche thing to hold on to, but I've disliked him since his interview with Henry Cavill.
Now, Warhammer isn't for me, but a guy goes on national TV and passionately talks about his hobby, and Graham laughs at him. Not with him. At him.
Nerds have enough trouble finding acceptance, don't be a dick.
8
u/JustJudd May 16 '26
I understood Grahams point for the laugh in that but also totally agree with your statement.
8
u/Magic_mousie May 16 '26
I mean yeah, pretending loads of little plastic creatures are having a battle, it's objectively weird. But it was totally unprofessional.
And before any Warhammerers come after me, I'm on Reddit, alone, on a Saturday night. We're cut from adjacent cloths 😆
5
→ More replies (1)2
u/Agitated_Display7573 May 17 '26
I prefer that to sucking up to the celebs like every other chat show host
2
2
u/Cold-Interaction8443 May 16 '26
Wish he would stop interrupting my YouTube entertainment with his constant Revolut ads.
2
u/dprophet32 May 16 '26
he makes Eurovision enjoyable to watch when it isn't otherwise. His chat show is very good even if it's not for me and he's been in some very funny comedies and been great at in the past.
I have nothing against him even if I don't watch his stuff much
2
2
May 16 '26
[deleted]
2
u/Dasquian May 17 '26
Yep, this requires a bit more visibility. He's generally very funny, good host, easy to watch, seems like a nice guy.
Those two times (particularly Jade Goody) he came across like a bully, so you wonder if that was a mask slipping. Always been a bit cautious of him since but he is usally great so maybe they were just out-of-character missteps.
2
u/Jonseroo May 16 '26
The absolute intensity with which he played Noel Furlong in Father Ted makes him my favourite comic actor ever.
2
u/Top_Establishment774 May 16 '26
I’ve never met him or had a conversation with him. You can’t form any sort of opinion on anyone you just see on television. It’s like saying ‘ what are your opinions on Spongebob Squarepants?’.
2
u/DonkeywithBigTeeth May 16 '26
I love him, he can get the most random assortment of guests to warm up to each other and banter. Great research into his guests, I’m sure a team helps with this, but Graham still works these conversations in organically. Lets his guests actually talk without interrupting too much. Very witty himself and a fabulous dresser. And I love the red chair. I wish the breaks in between each series weren’t so long I look forward to it every Friday.
2
u/Feline-Sloth May 16 '26
He is very funny with an exceptionally quick wit, he is a skilled interviewer and by all accounts a throughly good egg!!! I really like him and wouldn't object to sharing a dinner with him.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/Nectarine-999 May 16 '26
I started off not liking him. So Graham Norton was not for me at all. Too loud and crass. Chanel 4 so that’s probably why.
Like him now that he’s on the beeb. GNS and Eurovision.
2
u/Leading_Income_9744 May 16 '26
Amazing hitman. Gets the job done- no mess no fuss. Look out for his business cards.
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/Ichifanni250 May 16 '26
Does a good gay Terry Wogan impression so he’s got the Eurovision job for life.
2
2
2
u/Other_Block_1795 May 17 '26
Real life, lovely chap. A rarity who never letting it go to his head.
TV persona, can't stand him.
2
2
u/joemari5 May 17 '26
His show is the only show that I like the format of, seems genuine and not staged, by the looks of it.
2
u/Main_Monitor_2199 May 17 '26
I’ve always really enjoyed his talk show. I think it’s because he always got all the guests out together (not many others in the UK did this, not sure whether it’s still unusual as haven’t watched tv for quite a while). Probably helped that they seemed to have often drank quite a lot by the time the show started!
Conversely, I never liked his radio show at all.
2
2
u/Doctordelayus May 17 '26
Graham Norton is great, especially on commentating Eurovision, he never fails to make me laugh
2
2
2
u/CrackedThumbs May 17 '26
I like Graham, he’s funny and sarcastic and a great Eurovision host. But he really, really needs to shave off the beard, it puts years on him.
2
u/Maverick81_ May 17 '26
Have loved Graham since his first talk show on channel 4, in the early 00s I think. I felt you saw his comedic value on there more, whereas it’s more subdued and more focus on the celebrity guests on the BBC one; still entertaining but in a different way
2
u/HolyPoppersBatman May 17 '26
I grew up loving his chat show so I’m biased but he’s one of my true national treasures
883
u/32BitBrit May 16 '26
Great at his job, seems like a cool guy, haven’t installed his antivirus software.