Graham Norton recently shared his candid thoughts about Taylor Swift while reflecting on some of his most notable celebrity chat show mishaps. He described Swift as an incredibly talented artist but admitted that interviewing her posed unique challenges due to her intense fan following. Norton recounted moments where he felt overwhelmed by the excitement surrounding her appearances, highlighting the pressure of creating engaging conversations with such high-profile guests.
During the discussion, he also recounted other memorable blunders from his show, emphasizing that not every interview goes as planned. Norton expressed appreciation for the unpredictable nature of live television, noting that even the most skilled hosts can encounter awkward moments. Despite the challenges, he remains committed to delivering entertaining content and cherishes the experiences he’s had with various celebrities, including Swift.
The 61-year-old Irish comedian, known for hosting the long-running Graham Norton Show in the UK, shared his thoughts during an appearance on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday when discussing the renowned artist Taylor Swift. He remarked, “Someone like Taylor Swift, who is arguably the most famous woman in the world—I don’t know if it’s an act, but she appears to be so close to normal.” His comments reflect admiration for Swift’s relatability, despite her immense fame.
“It’s strange,” Graham Norton remarked. “It’s like you can change the economy of a country just by showing up. How can someone be this normal? Yet, she is so lovely, down-to-earth, and just fantastic.”
He further expressed admiration for Taylor Swift’s pragmatic approach to songwriting. “I remember telling her, since she was about to embark on a lengthy tour, ‘Are you worried about keeping your voice?’ and she simply responded, ‘No, I write songs that are easy to sing.'”
Kyle also echoed Norton’s sentiments, expressing his affection for the megastar. “She has always been incredibly sweet. She transitioned from that gangly giraffe teenager country girl into a megastar, but she has remained the same from beginning to end. I love her,” he said.
“She literally decided, ‘I will write easy-to-sing songs. Therefore, I need never worry about my voice because I’ll be fine.’ And now, all the fans can sing along to them,” Graham added.
In an interview with news.com.au, he also recounted some of the most memorable disasters from his 31 seasons of The Graham Norton Show. He mentioned that one celebrity who “wasn’t a great guest” was American actress Daryl Hannah.
He clarified that it wasn’t outrageous demands or “diva” behavior that made the Kill Bill star challenging to work with, but rather her nerves. Graham noted that Daryl’s reputation for being anxious preceded her, recalling an incident where the Splash actress reportedly fainted during her appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman.
“So, she did our show, and bless her, she wasn’t a great guest,” he told the publication. “But what I loved was that after she got through it, she was high as a kite. She truly felt like she had accomplished something amazing, and I was thrilled for her that she had managed to get through it. It was still a very poor show.”
Graham also acknowledged that a boozy appearance from actor Mickey Rourke was “hard work” for him as the chat show host. “I just happened to be standing there when he got out of the car, and he was holding a bottle of Jack Daniels, which is already concerning,” he recalled. “Then we noticed the bottle was half-empty, and it soon became very clear where that Jack Daniels had gone. Those nights can be quite challenging, where you’re just trying to keep it together and make it to the finish line.”
He also reminisced about a 2012 appearance by pop icon Madonna, who appeared less than impressed when presented with two dolls resembling her, made by diehard fans in the audience. “I saw them after the show and said, ‘Oh, I’m sorry she was a bit rude about the dolls,’ but they couldn’t have been happier. Their diva had behaved exactly as they wanted her to!”
The Graham Norton Show has been running for an impressive 31 seasons. The funnyman’s flamboyant presentation style and seemingly effortless interaction with guests have earned him numerous accolades, including three British Academy Television Awards for Best Entertainment Performance.
