This article is about the entertainer and comedian. For the former rugby league footballer, see
Graeme Norton.
Graham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton, (born 4 April 1963)[1] is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist. He is the host of comedy chat programme The Graham Norton Show on BBC One in the UK and BBC America in the US. Hot Press has described him as "the 21st century's answer to Terry Wogan", with both men sharing an Irish background and the common link of being a BBC Radio 2 presenter and the BBC television commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest.[2] Norton has won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Entertainment Performance on five occassions.
Norton was born in Clondalkin, a suburb of Dublin, but grew up in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland to a Protestant family. He was educated at Bandon Grammar School, in County Cork and then University College Cork but did not complete his studies.
In 1992 his stand-up comedy drag act in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as a tea-towel clad Mother Teresa of Calcutta made the press when Scottish Television's religious affairs department mistakenly thought he represented the real Mother Teresa.[3]
His first appearances in broadcasting were in his spot as a regular comedian and panellist on the BBC Radio 4 show Loose Ends, when the show ran on Saturday mornings, in the early 1990s. His rise to fame began as one of the early successes of Channel 5, when he won an award for his performance as the stand-in host of a late-night TV talk show usually presented by Jack Docherty.[4][5] This was followed by a comic quiz show on Channel 5 called Bring Me the Head of Light Entertainment, which was not well received as a programme, but did further enhance Norton's individual reputation as a comic and TV host. In 1996, Norton co-hosted the late-night quiz show Carnal Knowledge on ITV with Maria McErlane.
In 1996, Norton played the part of Father Noel Furlong in three episodes ("Hell", "Flight Into Terror", "The Mainland") of the Channel 4 series Father Ted. Father Noel Furlong was often seen taking charge of a small youth folk-group.
After this early success, Norton moved to Channel 4 to host his own chat shows including So Graham Norton and V Graham Norton. As a performer who is not only openly gay,[6] but also camp and flamboyant, it was here that Norton's act was fully honed as a cheeky, innuendo-laden joker.
In 2003, he was the subject of controversy when, on his show on Channel 4, he made a comedic reference to the recent death of Bee Gees singer Maurice Gibb. The Independent Television Commission investigated after complaints about this insensitivity were forwarded to it and eventually Channel 4 had to make two apologies: one in the form of a caption slide before the show, another from Norton in person.
Also in 2003, he was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. (Though Norton is Irish, the bulk of his television career has been in the UK.)
In the summer of 2004, Norton moved across the Atlantic to start a new venture in American television. The Graham Norton Effect debuted on 24 June 2004 on Comedy Central, and was also broadcast in the UK on BBC Three. In the midst of controversy surrounding Janet Jackson's Super Bowl performance, Norton was wary of moving into the market.[7]
Norton at 2009 BAFTA awards
In 2005, Norton moved to the BBC and began hosting the Saturday evening reality TV series Strictly Dance Fever on BBC One, as well as a new comedy chat show, Graham Norton's Bigger Picture. He also read stories some nights on the BBC children's channel CBeebies as part of Bedtime Hour.
In 2006, Norton hosted the BBC One series How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? in which Andrew Lloyd Webber tried to find a lead actress for his West End version of The Sound of Music. Norton has subsequently presented the 3 follow-up series: Any Dream Will Do in 2007, in which a group of males competed to win the role of Joseph in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; I'd Do Anything in 2008, in which Andrew Lloyd Webber seeks to find the part of Nancy and Oliver for Sir Cameron Mackintosh's production of Lionel Bart's Oliver!; and Over the Rainbow in 2010, following a similar format to find a new Dorothy for a Wizard of Oz West end Production.
Norton hosted various other shows for the BBC during this time, including When Will I Be Famous? (2007), The One and Only (2008) and Totally Saturday (2009). Since 2007, Norton has also been a regular host of The British Academy Television Awards. On 7 July 2007, Norton presented at Live Earth and undertook a trip to Ethiopia with the Born Free Foundation to highlight the plight of the Ethiopian wolf – the rarest canid in the world. In the same year, he was the subject of an episode of the BBC1 genealogy documentary Who Do You Think You Are?.
Norton's chat show, The Graham Norton Show, began on 22 February 2007 on BBC Two. Although in a format that he had not been involved in for 4 years, it is very similar to his previous Channel 4 shows. On 6 October 2009, the show moved to BBC One, in a new one-hour format.
In May 2010, he stood in for Chris Evans' breakfast show on BBC Radio 2. Later that month, it was confirmed that he would be replacing Jonathan Ross's Saturday morning slot on the same station.
In December 2011, the panel show Would You Rather...? with Graham Norton premiered on BBC America in the time slot immediately following The Graham Norton Show. Recorded in New York, it is one of BBC America's earliest efforts at producing original programming, and is also the first panel game the channel has shown, either of British or American origin.
In January 2012, he called on listeners to his Radio 2 show to help find his car hours after it was stolen. He called it "The Great Car Hunt" and told listeners to “Keep your eyes out for it. It was filthy by the way."
Norton hosted the first annual Eurovision Dance Contest alongside Claudia Winkleman which was held on 1 September 2007 in London, England. The format was based on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and the EBU's Eurovision Song Contest. Norton and Winkleman also hosted the 2008 Contest in Glasgow, Scotland.
In October 2008, it was confirmed by the BBC that Norton would replace Terry Wogan as the BBC's presenter for the UK heats of the Eurovision Song Contest, in a show to be called Your Country Needs You.
On 5 December 2008 it was announced that Norton would also take over from Wogan as the presenter of the main Eurovision Song Contest.[8] The 54th Eurovision Song Contest was held in the Olimpiyskiy (Olympic) Stadium, Moscow on 16 May 2009.
Norton's jokes during his debut received some positive reviews from the British media. The Guardian noted his comments on Iceland's entry, which finished in second place, had "rooted around in a cupboard and found an old bridesmaid dress from 1987" and the Armenian singers, who finished in tenth place, were sporting traditional dress, "which would be true if you come from the village where Liberace is the mayor."[9] The Times noted his highlighting of the arrest of thirty gay rights protesters in Moscow – "heavy-handed policing has really marred what has been a fantastic Eurovision."[9]
His comment “The bad news is you’re about to watch Albania. She’s only 17 so please bear that in mind. Where was her mother? Why didn’t she step in and say no?” which was made just before Albanian singer Kejsi Tola was set to take the stage dubbed an insult by many, sent ripples of outrage through not only Albania, but also the Albanian population in Britain. He then announced that Albania should get no points and that he didn't care what anybody else thought. There was a petition circling the net calling for a formal apology from Norton. The petition, which called his comment “very rude and insulting,” had drawn over 1,000 signatures. He never responded.[10]
In 2011, he snarked that if Jedward's entry into the competition that year won, the twins would never sleep again. In the end, they were eighth. Earlier in that year's televote, he joked "Quick, someone take a picture", when The British entry that year went temporarily in the lead early on after high votes from Russia(4), Bulgaria(12) and Italy(10). In the end, the song dropped down the 11th, earning 100 points. Very annoyed, Norton claimed 'We were better than Jedward'.
In 2012, Norton joked about the Spanish singer Pastora Soler and the economic situation of Spain. This statements unleashed many bad reviews on the internet. Norton joked about Rona Nishliu (the singer of Albania) too. He said that Rona was a singer that "she shout a lot".
In July 2000 Graham was one of three judges of the Miss Lesbian Beauty Contest 2000 held at The Talk of London, Drury Lane. The contest was won by 42 year old Carol Hutchins who wowed the audience with her sit-down comedy routine from a wheelchair. Graham described Carol as a "very bright, funny lady."
Graham Norton played Mr. Puckov in the 2006 American comedy spoof film Another Gay Movie. In 2007, Norton played Taylor in the romantic comedy film I Could Never Be Your Woman.
Norton was involved in a high-publicity advertising campaign for the UK National Lottery as an animated unicorn, the stooge to a character based on Lady Luck (played by Fay Ripley). He has also advertised McVitie's biscuits.
In 2007, Norton featured in Girls Aloud and Sugababes' Comic Relief video for the single "Walk This Way."
In January 2009, Norton made his West End stage debut in a revival of La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre.
Since 2009, Norton has been the host of the comedy game-show Most Popular on US cable television channel WE tv.[11]
Norton currently writes an advice column in The Daily Telegraph newspaper. In October 2010, these columns were made into a book entitled Ask Graham, published by John Blake Publishing.
Norton with a dog in 2006, supporting
Crusaid.
Norton has stated that he felt "out of place" growing up in Ireland; his family are Protestant yet the Republic of Ireland is overwhelmingly Catholic. Norton took part in the TV programme, Who Do You Think You Are?, to trace his ancestry. It was discovered that his family were originally planters sent over from England to take over Irish land. Some members of his family had fought for the British Monarchy during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and taken part in a massacre of Catholics in Carnew Castle. Another member of his family was later killed in battle by the United Irishmen. Norton said he was comforted to find out that his family had resided in Ireland for generations.[12]
In 1989 while living in London, Norton was mugged, beaten and stabbed by a group of attackers on the street. He says he lost half his blood and nearly died, and he was hospitalised for two and a half weeks.[13][14]
Norton is openly gay.[6][15][16]
Norton owns a holiday home in Ahakista, County Cork, which is near to where he grew up, in Bandon. The house has a private beach and overlooks Dunmanus Bay.
Sitting in for Steve Wright August 2009 BBC Radio 2
Sitting in for Chris Evans May /July 2010 BBC Radio 2
On 2 October 2010, he began his weekly BBC Radio 2 Saturday show taking over from Jonathan Ross. The show airs from 10.00am-1.00pm and combines a mixture of music, chat and celebrity guests.
2011/12 Radio 2 Saturday mornings
- Live At The Roundhouse (19 November 2001)
- 1999 : Gaytime Award for Gay Entertainer of the Year
- 2000 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance – So Graham Norton
- 2001 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance - So Graham Norton
- 2001 : RTS Television Award for Best Presenter – So Graham Norton
- 2001 : TRIC Award TV Personality of the Year
- 2002 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Perfromance - So Graham Norton
- 2011 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance – The Graham Norton Show [17]
- 2012 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance - The Graham Norton Show
- ^ Norton, Graham. So Me. Hodder & Stoughton. p. 4. ISBN 0-340-83348-3.
- ^ Bootboy (20 June 2007). "Reasons to be cheerful". Hot Press. http://hotpress.com/archive/2931306.html. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
- ^ Turpin, Adrian (20 August 1992). "Festival Eye". The Independent: p. 24.
- ^ "Graham Norton: Naughty but nice". BBC News (BBC). 15 December 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3322069.stm. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ Robinson, James (14 August 2005). "Summer stand-ins steal the limelight". The Observer (Guardian Media Group). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2005/aug/14/broadcasting.business. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ a b Cohen, Benjamin (27 April 2006)."Graham Norton: “I’m too old to be attractive to gay men”. Pink News. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- ^ Norton, Graham. So Me. Hodder & Stoughton. pp. 326–333. ISBN 0-340-83348-3.
- ^ "Eurovision: Norton to replace Wogan". BBC Press Release (BBC). 12 December 2008. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/12_december/05/eurovision.shtml. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
- ^ a b "Norton's Eurovision debut reviewed". BBC News (BBC). 09:44 GMT, Sunday, 17 May 2009 10:44 UK.
- ^ "Graham Norton Albanian Eurovision Insult".
- ^ "Most Popular". WE tv.
- ^ "Graham Norton". Who Do You Think You Are?
- ^ Norton, Graham (2 October 2010). "Graham Norton: agony uncle". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8034256/Graham-Norton-agony-uncle.html. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
- ^ Jones, Liz (3 September 2004). "Graham's growing pains". This is London. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-12964948-grahams-growing-pains.do. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
- ^ "Lynn Barber interviews Graham Norton". The Observer (Guardian Media Group). 28 October 2001. http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2001/oct/28/features.magazine7. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
- ^ Ellen, Barbara (18 November 2007). "Barbara Ellen interviews Graham Norton". The Observer. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/nov/18/bbc.television. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
- ^ "Graham Norton Nabs BAFTA TV Award". IFTN (Irish Film and Television Network). http://iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4283916&tpl=archnews&force=1. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
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