Graham Norton is among the country’s best loved presenters with fans curious to know all there is about the star.
Presenter Graham Norton is set to take centre stage on New Year’s Eve for a star-studded episode of The Graham Norton Show kicking off on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31, at.1025pm on One and iPlayer.
The special is set to feature Robbie Williams, Motsi Mabuse, and more and as we gear up to ring in the New Year with Norton, here’s a closer look at the life of this charismatic presenter.
Early Life
Born Graham William Walker in 1963 in Clondalkin, County Dublin, Ireland, Norton grew up with his parents, William “Billy” and Rhoda, and his older sister Paula.
The family later moved to County Cork, where Norton attended university, studying English and French.
However, his academic journey was cut short when he experienced a “mini-breakdown” after two years, leading him to leave university.
Norton doesn’t believe that he suffered with depression though and attributes his decision to leave university to feeling unfulfilled, having spent time in vibrant cities like Paris and London.
He said: “Some people think they’re depressed and they go to the doctor and want pills.
“And you just think: ‘You hate where you live, you’ve lost your job, your boyfriend has dumped you, could all this be why you’re depressed?’”
Inside Graham Norton’s life from near-death experience to Terry Wogan inspired Eurovision tradition (Image: BBC)
Presenter Graham Norton started a Eurovision tradition following the previous host Terry Wogan’s death in 2016. (Image: ITV)
Near-death experience
The star of The Graham Norton Show, decided to relocate to London after a year in San Francisco, opting to further his education at the Central School of Speech and Drama.
It was during this period that he experienced a traumatic mugging incident where he was stabbed on the streets, only to be discovered by an elderly couple.
In a candid interview with The Guardian, he recounted: “‘It was interesting because when you’re losing blood it really is your life force going out of you.
“And what’s nice about it is that it’s only a little bit panicky and then you’re just really tired.
“The old lady was there in her dressing gown, God love her, with someone bleeding on her doorstep, and instinctively I asked to hold her hand – which I think is a kind of human thing, where you don’t want to die alone.”
Early career
Norton’s fortunes began to change for the better when he secured a regular gig on Radio 4’s Loose Ends following a successful stint at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
His acting chops were then first displayed on Channel 4’s hit sitcom Father Ted, where he played the character Father Noel Furlong for four years.
His charismatic presence soon earned him his own weekly chat show, So Graham Norton, in the late 1990s, followed by a daily weeknight programme in 2002.
After presenting on Comic Relief, Norton continued to climb the ladder of success, securing more presenting roles and eventually launching The Graham Norton Show, which remains a Friday night favourite, drawing celebrities from around the globe.
Actor and presenter Graham Norton starred as Father Noel Furlong in the comedy Father Ted. (Image: CHANNEL 4)
Eurovision
Norton also stepped into the role of the UK’s commentator for Eurovision, taking over from Terry Wogan in 2009.
Graham Norton has continued a touching Eurovision tribute initiated by the late Sir Terry Wogan.
Honouring his predecessor, Norton told Eurovision fans: “For those who aren’t aware, song number nine is famous because Sir Terry always warned me not to have anything to drink until that point.
“During song number nine this year [2016] the host country Sweden will be performing and I will be encouraging everyone to raise a glass.
“It has all worked out very nicely as Swedish people in the arena will be cheering their song in the stadium as everyone back in the UK will join me and say cheers to the memory and legacy of Sir Terry Wogan.”
Love life
In his personal life, Norton married Scottish filmmaker Jonathan “Jono” McLeod in July 2022.
The couple wed at Bantry House, County Cork before approximately 120 guests, but little else is known about their romance.
Previously, Norton was linked to drag artist Kristian Seeber, widely known as Tina Burner, and others like Trevor Patterson and Andrew Smith.
The Graham Norton Show returns on Tuesday, December 31, at 10.25pm on One and iPlayer.