Norton, Graham (1963– )

English comedian. Known for his irreverent, bawdy, campy humour, he hosted his own comic chat show So Graham Norton (1998) in the UK. His popularity also spread to the USA, where he starred on Comedy Central's The Graham Norton Effect (2004), filmed in New York City.

A stint presenting The Jack Docherty Show in 1997 led to his own comedy chat show. He has also hosted Bring Me the Head of Light Entertainment (1997) and The 100 Greatest TV Moments (1999), and has made guest appearances on popular sitcoms such as Father Ted and the BBC radio shows Loose Ends and Just a Minute. His own chat shows feature celebrity guests and audience participation.

He was born in Dublin but moved around Ireland until as a teenager he settled in the village of Bandon, County Cork, Ireland. After leaving school he lived in a commune in San Francisco for a year before returning to the UK to train at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London. He was a struggling actor during his 20s, waiting tables and bartending to supplement his income. He performed one-man shows at the Edinburgh Festival 1992–97, and was nominated for the festival's Perrier comedy award in 1997, generating several offers for comic television roles. He has received several BAFTA awards and an International Emmy.