There’s no question that Graham Norton’s commentary is one of the highlights of the Eurovision Song Contest every year.
And for 2026, he really did not hold back.
The 63-year-old Irish comedian has been narrating the competition’s live final for the BBC since 2009, following the death of his predecessor, Sir Terry Wogan.
And every time, he makes headlines and fuels memes with his digs and quips, whether it be towards the hosts or contestants.
As the 2026 final got underway in Vienna, Austria, viewers wasted no time in flocking to X to praise the beloved broadcaster, hailing his ‘lethal’ remarks as the thing that makes Eurovision ‘worth watching’.
‘It’s not Eurovision without Graham Norton and his sarcastic comments’, wrote @Sunf10wer8_.
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‘GRAHAM NORTON YOU ARE SAVAGE’, laughed @BCtwtCarmen.’
‘I wonder [if] the Eurovision organisers know Graham Norton spends all night slagging the contest off’, mocked @OorRoy.
@PlatinumAl further declared that Graham was on ‘top form from the start’, while @go_rossi46 said he is ‘on fire’.
‘Graham Norton can’t ever leave Eurovision. He is the main reason we watch it right?!’, tweeted @spitfire_bill.
The funny man got straight into the gags as Denmark opened the show, first in the running order with Soren Torpegaard Lund performing his song, For Vi Gar Hjem, prompting Graham to reference the team’s ‘ill-advised mesh tops’.
He also rinsed the presenters, Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski, repeatedly, beginning with a real zinger: ‘Presenting Eurovision may not seem like rocket science, but wait ’til you see these two. You will see more of them tonight than you may want to.’
The chat show legend proceeded to poke fun at their elaborate outfits, saying she looked like ‘the heir to a jewellery fortune’ while he ‘looks like he’s ready to make balloon animals’.
He noted that, ‘Apparently, Victoria is wearing jewels worth £4.5million. It may not look like it, but that’s what I heard…’
‘Now, unfortunately, we return to the hosts,’ he also said during a break between performances before slating the duo’s chemistry… or lack thereof.
Describing Michael as an ‘experienced comedian’, he admitted, ‘It’s him and her. They just do not click.
‘Whatever the opposite of chemistry is, that’s what it is – woodwork.’
Elsewhere, viewers couldn’t help but notice how Graham was taken aback by the reaction to Israel tonight, given the controversy surrounding its participation, which has sparked boycotts from several other countries.
Introducing 28-year-old Israeli singer Noam Bettan with his track Michelle, Graham praised the ‘clever staging’ and said he ‘performs very well’.
And as the crowd appeared to give the act a warm reception, Graham stuttered: ‘Slightly mixed response in the hall. I’m not quite sure what we’re hearing.’
For the most part, the live audience in the arena sounded like they were cheering and chanting Noam’s name, despite large protests swarming the city outside in solidarity with Palestine.
Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland, and Slovenia all withdrew from the competition when Israel’s participation was confirmed, while Spain, previously part of the Big Five, is boycotting, too.
Many have speculated that the Israeli beauty brand Moroccanoil being a Eurovision sponsor for the past six years is part of the reason why the country has not been banned by organisers, even though outside pressure remains strong.
As for the United Kingdom, Sam Battle, who performs as Look Mum No Computer, represents us this year with Eins, Zwei, Drei.
The YouTube star wore a pink boiler suit as performers in fluffy headwear danced in a mock workshop while he played a synthesiser, and ended up in a cardboard box.
It was all as whacky as you’d expect, and while fans inside Wiener Stadthalle were happy to get involved in some audience participation, those back in Sam’s home country haven’t been loving his tune.
Nevertheless, whether he does well tonight or not, one thing is for certain – he won’t be flying back with Graham.
Speaking to The Guardian, the Graham Norton Show star said ahead of this year’s contest: ‘The big thing I have learned is to find out what plane the UK act is getting home – and to be on a different one.’
He continued: ‘It’s a long time to spend with someone who’s probably not very happy. There’s only so many positives you can think up to say – and you’ve probably said them all before you’ve even checked in.’
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