Graham Norton reveals the one A-list celebrity who keeps slipping through his fingers

There aren’t many celebrities who have not enjoyed a chat with Graham Norton on his iconic BBC chat show.

Since it first hit our screens in 2007, numerous stars have returned for repeat appearances over the years.

Yet, the 62-year-old comedian, broadcaster and writer has revealed the one A-list celebrity who has continually slipped through his fingers.

After being asked on the Dish podcast, hosted by Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett, about Brad Pitt never having done the show, he said: ‘He’s one of those ones that we keep getting close to, and then it doesn’t happen.

‘In America I think he doesn’t sit on the couch. He’ll do skits with them. He’ll play little games and stuff, so we’ve never had him sat down. Maybe we never will.’

One star who Graham was able to land on the show was Julia Roberts, however, who he described as ‘terrific’.

‘We’d never had her before and we discovered she’d never done a UK talk show and she made it all work because she just fangirled on Cher.

‘It gave the couch a shape. Rather than just having four huge stars, Julia Roberts shone her light on Cher and made her the number one star.

‘Also Julia Roberts did this thing where if there was a little break, she knows Cher, she knows Tom Hanks and Timothée Chalamet, when there was a little break, she’d talk to the audience.

‘The audience loved her so much. She was just terrific.

‘But I was nervous because Cher’s one of those people, she’s so great and I love her, but, uh, no s**** are given. I mean, if she’s not having a nice time-she’ll tell you. Yeah [live].’

Discussing the upcoming 33rd season, which begins on September 25 with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt for their movie Smashing Machine, the 62-year-old said: ‘It’s been a long time. I like the live research, it’s great.’

He also shed light on how he usually greets his celebrities when they come on the show.

‘I normally wait for the couch, he explained. ‘Sometimes I’ll bump into them backstage and that’s all fine. Sometimes they want me-to go and say hello.

‘If they’d never been on before, sometimes I’ll go say hello, like if they’re a sports person or something.’

The Graham Norton Show will return to our screens on Friday 26th September at 10:40pm.

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