Graham Norton fans have been left disappointed after the popular talk show host rejected rumours that he would be the next presenter of Ireland’s The Late Late Show. The news comes as the show’s current host, Ryan Tubridy, announced plans to step down from the role in the coming years, sparking speculation about who would take over. However, Norton has firmly put an end to any speculation, stating that he has no interest in the job. So, what led Norton to say “eh, no” to one of Ireland’s most coveted presenting roles? Let’s take a closer look.
Graham Norton, the celebrated TV personality and author, has declined the opportunity to present the Late Late Show, making it clear that he would find it extremely challenging. Norton responded with a firm “eh, no” when asked by radio host Brendan O’Connor if he would be tempted to return to Ireland to host the Late Late Show after current host Ryan Tubridy steps down.
“That job is so hard. That job is such a hard gig,” he said. Norton expressed that he prefers to chip away at a very silly bit of show business and talk to actors and musicians. The Late Late Show, on the other hand, requires one to cover a wider range of topics and changes of tone, in addition to the fact that it is a long show.
Norton has been married to Scottish film-maker Jono McLeod for almost a year, and when asked about married life, he said that it is “good so far”, with a laugh. He was also asked about including an unhappily married gay couple in his new book, and Norton expressed his love for Ireland’s plethora of gay couples. His idea for including the couple was “there was almost like a shotgun wedding thing going on — where people were thinking ‘oh God, now you voted for it, I suppose we’ll have to do it’”.
When asked about returning to Ireland in recent years, Norton explained that his father’s illness brought him back more often. Norton’s father had Parkinson’s disease, and his condition required Norton’s visits to Ireland more frequently. Norton believed that his parents were invincible and that he could always come back and nothing would have changed. However, when his father died, it was a wake-up call for Norton, and he realized that he loved Ireland again thanks to the people in Bandon, who made him fall in love with Ireland again.
In May, Norton will host the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. He plans to do his running commentary throughout the contest and take a leaf out of the late Terry Wogan’s book. Norton joked that he did not want to give up the commentary gig entirely since someone else might be better than him.
In conclusion, Norton expressed his admiration for the Late Late Show’s current host, Ryan Tubridy, and said that he would never be able to do his job. Norton’s love for Ireland has grown immensely over the years, and he hopes to visit Ireland more often when the situation gets better. Norton’s humor and unpredictable nature make him a national treasure, and his works are loved by millions.
In conclusion, the decision of Graham Norton to turn down the opportunity to present The Late Late Show has been met with disappointment by many fans. However, the beloved talk show host has made it clear that he intends to stay with his show on the BBC, where he has already achieved immense success. While it may be tempting to speculate on who will eventually replace Ryan Tubridy, it is important to take note of the great job he has done in keeping the show a beloved part of Irish TV culture. Ultimately, the future of The Late Late Show remains as exciting and unpredictable as ever, and the eyes of the nation will no doubt be watching eagerly to see what happens next.
