Graham Norton may have been hosting chat shows for nearly 30 years, but he says he still hasn’t lost the thrill of meeting people who surprise him.
Now 63, Norton remains one of the biggest names on British television, with The Graham Norton Show still pulling in major stars and viral moments nearly two decades after it first launched on the BBC. Earlier this year, he signed a new three-year deal with the broadcaster, proving there is still plenty of life left in his famous red sofa.
Reflecting on his longevity, Norton admitted he understands why some hosts walk away after decades on air — but he says he is not there yet. He still enjoys the unpredictability of the format and the strange chemistry that can happen when guests from completely different worlds are thrown together.
That unpredictability has become one of the defining features of his success. Over the years, The Graham Norton Show has built a reputation for creating memorable television by mixing A-list actors, musicians and comedians in a way that feels more like a chaotic dinner party than a polished celebrity interview.
It is also a huge part of why the show has stayed relevant. While other hosts leaned into politics or tried to reinvent the talk-show formula, Norton largely stuck to what he does best: making celebrities relax, clash, laugh and occasionally overshare.
But Norton is no longer just the king of Friday-night chat.
This month, he is stepping into a major new role as the host of The Neighbourhood, ITV’s big reality TV gamble. The new series sees households from across Britain living side by side, competing in challenges and voting each other out as they battle for a £250,000 prize.
The format has already drawn comparisons to The Traitors and Big Brother, but Norton says what attracted him was that it felt different enough to stand on its own. He also admitted he was pleasantly surprised to still be getting offers like this at his age.
Despite the competitive premise, Norton said filming the show gave him a more hopeful view of people. Rather than watching neighbours turn on each other instantly, he saw contestants from very different backgrounds largely get along — something he found refreshing in a time when public life can feel so divided.
Even with his ever-expanding list of side projects, Norton’s chat show remains at the heart of his career. Alongside television, he has built a remarkably varied portfolio, including writing novels, producing wine, co-hosting podcasts, judging on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and continuing his long-running Eurovision work.
His profile has only grown further in recent months, especially after The Graham Norton Show found itself linked to Taylor Swift in a major way. Norton and several guests from one episode were invited to appear in Swift’s “Opalite” music video after an idea reportedly sparked during her appearance on his sofa — a moment that underlined just how culturally relevant the show still is.
For Norton, though, the appeal of the format has never really changed. He says the magic lies in the fact that no matter how much planning goes in, it can still fall flat — or become something unexpectedly brilliant. That uncertainty is what keeps it exciting.
He may no longer see himself as “cool” in the way he was during his more outrageous Channel 4 years, but that hardly matters now. Norton has moved far beyond being a cult TV personality and become something rarer — a mainstream presenter who still feels genuinely sharp, funny and in touch.
At a time when television is constantly chasing the next format, the next host and the next viral hit, Graham Norton has quietly done something even harder: he has endured, adapted and remained essential.
