Graham Norton

This article is about the entertainer and comedian. For the former rugby league footballer, see Graeme Norton.

Graham Norton
Norton in May 2010
Birth name	Graham William Walker
Born	4 April 1963 (1963-04-04) (age 48) Clondalkin, Dublin, Ireland
Medium	Television, radio, stand-up
Nationality	Irish
Years active	1992–present
Genres	Observational comedy
Subject(s)	Everyday life, pop culture, current events, celebrities, sex
Notable works and roles	Host: So Graham Norton V Graham Norton The Graham Norton Effect Graham Norton's Bigger Picture The Graham Norton Show Mr. Puckov in Another Gay Movie Taylor in I Could Never Be Your Woman

Graham William Walker (born 4 April 1963)^[1] is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist, known by his stage name Graham Norton. He is the host of the comedy chat show The Graham Norton Show and the BBC commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Early life and career

Norton was born in Clondalkin, a suburb of Dublin, but grew up in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland. He was educated in Bandon Grammar School, County Cork.

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.^[2]

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. 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.

Norton also played the part of Father Noel Furlong in 3 episodes of the popular Channel 4 series Father Ted in 1996; where he was often seen taking charge of a small youth folk-group.^[3]

Channel 4

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, but also naturally 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.^[4]

BBC

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' Saturday morning slot on the same station.

Eurovision

Norton with Josh Dubovie at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest

Norton hosted the first annual Eurovision Dance Contest alongside Claudia Winkleman which was held in London, United Kingdom on 1 September 2007. 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.^[5] 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".^[6] 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".^[6]

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. There was even 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.^[7]

Other

In July 2000 Graham was one of three judges of the Miss Lesbian Beauty Contest 2000 held at The Talk of London, Dury 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.^[8]

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.

Personal life

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.^[9]

Norton is openly gay.^[10]

Norton suffers from vitiligo, a skin disorder in which patches of depigmented skin occur.^[11][12]

Norton caused controversy on 7 October 2006, when he described ecstasy as "fantastic".^[13]

Immediately after hosting the BAFTAs in 2009, he said he returned home only to fall down his stairs and break two ribs. Some sources claimed that he presented the next Graham Norton Show on crutches, but this is not true, although he did make a comment about it, related to Pushing Daisies, by saying "in 'Pushing Daisies' people die in all sorts of bizarre ways... someone else was killed by a man dressed as a crash-test dummy, and some idiot almost died when he got drunk and fell down the stairs after presenting the BAFTAs. As if that could happen in real life!"

TV appearances

Main presenting credits

• Carnal Knowledge (TV series, co-presenter) (1996, 27 one hour shows)
• Bring Me the Head of Light Entertainment
• So Graham Norton (1998–2002)
• V Graham Norton (2002–2003)
• NY Graham Norton (2004)
• The Graham Norton Effect (2004–2005)
• Graham Norton's Bigger Picture (2005–2006)
• Strictly Dance Fever (2005–2006)
• BBC/Andrew Lloyd Webber musical theater talent searches (2006–present)
  • How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? (2006)
  • Any Dream Will Do (2007)
  • I'd Do Anything (2008)
  • Over the Rainbow (2010)
• The Big Finish (2006–)
• When Will I Be Famous? (2007)
• The Graham Norton Show (2007–present)
• The British Academy Television Awards (2007)
• Live Earth (2007)
• Eurovision Dance Contest (2007)
• The One and Only (2008)
• Eurovision Dance Contest (2008)
• Eurovision: Your Country Needs You (2009–present)
• Eurovision Song Contest (UK commentator, 2009–present)
• Totally Saturday (2009)
• Most Popular (2009–present)
• Would You Rather...? with Graham Norton (TV Series) (BBC AMERICA, 2011–present)

Other television credits

Year	Title	Character	Broadcaster
1996–98	Father Ted: Hell Flight into Terror The Mainland	Father Noel Furlong	Channel 4
2001	Rex the Runt: A Crap Day Out	The Plants voice	BBC
	Rex the Runt: Patio	Osvalde Halitosis voice	BBC
	The Kumars at No. 42	Himself	BBC
2002	Absolutely Fabulous: Gay	Himself	BBC
2007	Who Do You Think You Are?	Himself	BBC
	Saving Planet Earth Saving Wolves	Himself	BBC
	Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List	Himself	Bravo
	Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind	Computer voice	BBC

Radio

• Just a Minute

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.

Filmography

Year	Title	Character	Production
1999	Stargay	Graham Solex	Canal+
2006	Another Gay Movie	Mr. Puckov	Luna Pictures
2007	I Could Never Be Your Woman	Taylor	The Weinstein Company

Stand-Up videos

• Live At The Roundhouse (19 November 2001)

Awards

• 1999 : Gaytime^{[disambiguation needed ]} Award for Gay Entertainer of the Year
• 2000, 2001, 2002 : BAFTA 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
• 2011 : BAFTA Award for Best Entertainment Performance - The Graham Norton Show^[14]

See also

• Father Noel Furlong

References

1. ^ Norton, Graham. So Me. Hodder & Stoughton. p. 4. ISBN 0340833483. 
2. ^ Adrian Turpin (1992-08-20). "Festival Eye". The Independent. p. 24. 
3. ^ "Hell"; "Flight Into Terror"; "The Mainland"
4. ^ Norton, Graham. So Me. Hodder & Stoughton. pp. 326–333. ISBN 0340833483. 
5. ^ "Eurovision: Norton to replace Wogan". BBC. 12 December 2008. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/12_december/05/eurovision.shtml. Retrieved 2009-05-16. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Norton's Eurovision debut reviewed – BBC News – 09:44 GMT, Sunday, 17 May 2009 10:44 UK
7. ^ Graham Norton Albanian Eurovision Insult
8. ^ http://www.wetv.com/most-popular/
9. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/whodoyouthinkyouare/past-stories/graham-norton.shtml
10. ^ "Graham Norton: “I’m too old to be attractive to gay men” Pink News 27 April 2006 Retrieved 14 June 2011
11. ^ "Lynn Barber interviews Graham Norton". Guardian. 2001-10-28. http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2001/oct/28/features.magazine7. Retrieved 2009-05-16. 
12. ^ Ellen, Barbara (2007-11-18). "Barbara Ellen interviews Graham Norton". The Observer. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/nov/18/bbc.television. Retrieved 2008-01-29. 
13. ^ "Graham Norton: 'BBC defends Norton drug comments'". bbc.co.uk. 7 October 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5416220.stm. Retrieved 2007-11-29. 
14. ^ "Graham Norton Nabs BAFTA TV Award". IFTN. http://iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4283916&tpl=archnews&force=1. Retrieved 26 May 2011. 

External links

• Graham Norton at the Internet Movie Database
• Graham Norton at the British Film Institute's Screenonline

Media offices
Preceded by Terry Wogan	Eurovision Song Contest UK Commentator 2009–present	Incumbent
Preceded by N/A	Eurovision Dance Contest presenter (with Claudia Winkleman) 2007, 2008	Succeeded by TBA

Persondata
Name	Norton, Graham
Alternative names	Walker, Graham William
Short description	Actor, comedian, television presenter
Date of birth	1963-4-4
Place of birth	County Cork, Ireland
Date of death
Place of death