Graham Norton's Dad Had Most Irish Reaction On Son's Chat Show ...
Graham Norton revealed his father’s very stoic reaction to celebrities when backstage at his son’s first TV chat show.
Graham was part of an all-star lineup on the first Late Late Show of 2024, which included fellow chat show legend Conan O’Brien, and Ellen Keane, and spoke at length about his career, including his chat show on the BBC.
However, as Graham told Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty, it wasn’t smooth sailing when he started in showbusiness — with his early struggles causing his late father Billy to not be impressed by son’s career choice.
Graham Norton revealed that his father had a stoic reaction when backstage at his son’s first chat show on Channel 4. Pic: RTÉ‘Obviously, I was nothing, Graham explained. ‘I trained as an actor, never worked, then I had a stand up “career” [but] nothing.’
Graham said he was delighted to finally be able to celebrate his early successes with his father before his death in 2000. He took his dad backstage as he hosted his first chat show So Graham Norton — which led to an awkward moment with legendary singer and model Grace Jones.
‘I did get my own chat show. I had found some success, so he got to see that,’ Graham said. ‘I don’t know how my mother did it, but she got him to London into the studio, for a recording of that chat show on Channel 4.’
Graham admitted that his father wasn’t entirely supportive of his career in the beginning, but was able to see his son have his first chat show — where he swiftly declined the opportunity to meet Grace Jones. Pic: RTÉ‘I remember it was Judith Chalmers and Grace Jones [as guests], and afterwards my mother, father and Judith Chalmers — the house was on fire. They’re getting on, loving each other. And I said to my father “oh, would you like to meet Grace Jones?”
‘He looked across the green room, Grace Jones was there with this big Philip Treacy headdress, drinking red wine, and my father looked over and he went, “no.”‘
Despite the swift reaction to not wanting to meet her, Graham later realised that ‘there is a photo of my mother and father with Grace Jones and Judith Chalmers.’
People were delighted to see Graham on the Late Late, with one person writing ‘Graham Norton, worth waiting for,’ while another added ‘Graham Norton – great value, as usual.’
However, one person joked that despite being a vintner with his own range of wines, that ‘audience gutted Graham Norton didnt bring a bottle of wine for everyone in the audience.’
The Late Late Show can be watched on the RTÉ Player on demand, or RTÉ One every Friday at 9.35pm.
