Graham Norton

Profession: Comedian/Presenter
Place/Date of Birth: Dublin, Ireland, 04 April 2020

Graham slams X Factor finalists? - Nov 2 2007
Graham Norton has apparently taken a swipe at this year's X Factor finalists, saying he doesn't think they are "up to much".

The 44-year-old - who hosted talent shows How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do for the BBC - reportedly told The Sun: "This year's show has not been particularly great - you've got 12 people who are, basically, not up to much.

"I suppose it just shows how shallow the talent pool is in Britain at the moment if that's the best we can come up with."

But the TV presenter admitted that there is one person he enjoys watching on the show - Niki Evans.

"I quite like her," he said. "She's OK, but the rest aren't exactly dazzling."

Graham's next project is The Ultimate Tribute Act - which will see lookalike singers competing against each other.

"I've not met any of the acts yet but I can't wait to see them," he explained. "I'm just finding out now how much I'll be allowed to take the p*** out of them."

Norton to host tribute show? - Oct 7 2007
Graham Norton is reportedly set to host a new Stars In Their Eyes-style show on BBC One.

The comic presenter will front The Ultimate Tribute, which will see 10 hopefuls compete against each other as tribute artists each week, according to the Daily Mirror.

The audience will vote for their favourite performer at the end of each episode.

"We’re looking for tribute artists who think they’re the best," the show’s bosses reportedly said.

"They have to live, breathe and actually turn themselves into the superstar of their dreams."

The paper reports that the winner of the eight episode series, which is apparently due to kick off early next year, will win a three-month performing contract across the pond in Las Vegas.

The much-loved show Stars In Their Eyes has been running on ITV1 for 17 years, but is currently taking a break.

Graham: The standard is so high - Mar 28 2007
Graham Norton has promised viewers will be amazed by the high standard of performers on new reality TV show Any Dream Will Do.

The presenter is hosting the search for a new star of the West End production of Joseph And The Technicolour Dreamcoat, and has had a sneak peek at the talent.

"[I’m] really looking forward to Joseph. On telly you don’t find out for two weeks but I know who the top 12 are and the standard is so high, it’s really, really high," he said.

Graham revealed the contestants have been spurred on by the success of Connie Fisher, who was cast as Maria in The Sound Of Music after winning TV show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?.

"Maria has succeeded beyond any of our dreams," he said. "What’s interesting about Connie is that she doesn’t have any reality TV winner thing about her, she’s a West End star... I think that’s what is really exciting for the boys.

"They know that now, so they know how much is at stake and the chance of being a crossover star in Joseph - like selling records and being a pop star - (are) really high."

Any Dream Will Do is on BBC One from March 31.

Kim Cattrall joins Norton’s new show - Feb 21 2007
Graham Norton’s new show on BBC Two is set to be a star-studded affair if the first two guests are anything to go by.

Kim Cattrall, otherwise known as Sex And The City’s Samantha, and Happy Feet star Elijah Wood are lined up to chat to the comedy talk show host in the debut episode.

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Biography

Graham Norton was born on the 4th of April in Bandon, County Cork in Ireland. His original name is Graham Walker and dad Billy was a Guiness representitive and his mum Rhoda a leading Mother’s Union member. Graham did want to become a journalist but failed to get a place at a journalism school, so he went to University College Cork to study English and French, but then dropped out at the end of his first year to go travelling.

The USA beckoned and Graham joined a hippy commune in San Fansciso. He was even engaged (albeit briefly) to an American lass but broke it off as he recognized for the first time that he was in fact gay. He returned to Ireland to complete his degree, and then moved to London where he joined the Central School of Speech and Drama. Graham Walker then changed to Graham Norton as there was another member of equity with his original name. Norton is in fact his great-grandmothers maiden name.

He had a few acting jobs, but mainly worked as a waiter and a barman until his late 20’s. He was known for being camp and bitchy and this led to ideas of a comedy performance. He wrote the show ’Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s Grand Farewell Tour’ and took it to the Edinburgh fringe festival in 1991. He staged successful one man shows here and made his name internationally when Charlie’s Angels Go To Hell transferred to London. This got him a Perrier Award nomination in 1997. In the same year Channel Five gave him his first television break, when he stood in for chatshow host Jack Docherty.

He proved his worth so much that he got his own series Bring Me The Head of Light Entertainment. After the show started in 1999, Graham’s star continued to rise and he Norton won many awards, including Gay Entertainer of the Year at the 1999 Gaytime TV Awards and two BAFTA’s for Best Entertainment Performance. He also started his own production company which now produces his own shows. The BBC have attempted to lure him away from Channel Four with rumoured offers in the region of £5 million, but so far he has resisted the urge and stays with Channel Four. His weekday show now goes out five nights a week. Graham Norton currently resides in Bow...
November 2007

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