Graham Norton wants to reduce the number of chat shows he does by a third so he can work on other projects
HE is one of Britain’s biggest chat-show kings, scooping a string of awards and tempting some of Hollywood’s biggest stars on to his sofa. But in a shock move, Graham Norton has hinted he would like to cut down his workload by a third. The star, who found fame in the late Nineties, with a […]
HE is one of Britain’s biggest chat-show kings, scooping a string of awards and tempting some of Hollywood’s biggest stars on to his sofa.
But in a shock move, Graham Norton has hinted he would like to cut down his workload by a third.
The star, who found fame in the late Nineties, with a role in comedy Father Ted and then as the host of fun show So Graham Norton, fancies going into semi-retirement — so he can work on other projects such as novel writing.
Graham — whose estimated BBC salary of £615,000 could be hit if he reduces his schedule — said: “Having observed friends of mine who’ve stopped working, it doesn’t seem like a great thing to do. What I might try to do is cut back on my workload.
“What I might try to do is just cut back on my workload.
“We are on air right now 35 to 36 weeks a year. So if I cut that down, maybe lob ten weeks off it, then I think that would be ideal. Then I would be able to stare at a wall, write a book, walk the dogs.”
Speaking in the US on SiriusXM, Graham, who also hosts a Saturday show on Radio 2, added: “What’s odd is, when you stop working you become a teenage girl.
“You start obsessing about minutiae. I don’t want to turn into that person.”
I’m sure Graham will keep his fingers in many pies.
And if there’s a vacuum in the chat-show game, here’s a bloke who could come in handy.
Jack Whitehall, who filled in as host of The Graham Norton show in May, impressed telly bosses so much that he has landed a festive gig.
He is making The Jack Whitehall Christmas Special for Netflix.
A source said: “He’ll be roping his celeb mates in to appear. He’s pretty busy with his stand-up tour and other TV projects but he likes to do audience shows.”
READ ON FOR MORE OF ANDY HALLS’ BIZARRE TV COLUMN
Amber’s cut loose
AMBER Gill thought she had a future with Greg O’Shea – who dumped her by text on Friday just 39 days after their Love Island victory.
The Geordie lass, pictured on Monday night at the TV Choice Awards in London, told ITV’s Loose Women on Monday: “I wanted to make it work . . . but if you don’t want to be with someone, you don’t want be with someone.”
She was the only one who didn’t see their split coming.
Arg charity swim
MY heart goes out to the dozen stars of Sink Or Swim as their bid to swim the English Channel – and raise cash for cancer charities – has now been dashed by bad weather.
The likes of Blue’s Simon Webbe, Love Island’s Wes Neslon and presenter Saira Khan were all set to complete the challenge on the Channel 4 show.
But on Monday after leaving the UK for France they had to be hauled out of the water when conditions were deemed too dangerous for them to continue.
An TV insider explained: “Everyone is devastated because they worked so hard.
“It was very emotional but they should all be proud of themselves, especially as the challenge was for such a brilliant cause.”
My greatest sympathy lies with Towie’s James Argent, who valiantly threw his hat in the ring and stuck with his training after previously admitting he struggled to work on his fitness.
But after giving C4’s Stand Up For Cancer appeal such a boost, I reckon all those taking part can hold their heads up high.
Here’s hoping they might yet get to complete the challenge.
bizbit
PIERS Morgan got a slap down during a live Good Morning Britain interview with Heart DJ Amanda Holden.
He suggested she had “a face for radio” and she hit back by revealing his GMB contract ran out in four months. Touché.
TOWIE’s Pete Wicks had to hide in his hotel room after a telly date got too keen.
He spent a disastrous three days in Naples, Italy, with the smitten woman as part of Celebrity First Dates for Stand Up To Cancer.
A source said: “On paper she seemed a great match. But she ended up being like all the other girls who just throw themselves at him.
“She didn’t seem to take the hint he wasn’t interested. He spent half the time trying to get away from his own date.”
Enders shock arrival
BIANCA Jackson’s past came back to haunt her in last night’s EastEnders.
Leo King, the son of paedophile Tony, arrived on Albert Square having already bumped into Bianca’s daughter Tiffany (played by Maisie Smith).
He had been seen at Callum Halfway and Whitney Dean’s wedding last week spooking Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer.
Tony was imprisoned for grooming Bianca’s adopted daughter Whitney (Shona McGarty) and now Leo (Tom Wells) is keen to clear his dad’s name.
The former Doctors and Bancroft actor said: “He’s definitely a man not to be trusted and I can’t wait to see him settle into Walford.
“It’s going to be fun.”
It’s EastEnders Tom, it doesn’t do fun.
must watch
WHAT? The Capture, BBC1, 9pm.
WHY? Despite arriving with little fanfare, this new thriller starring Holliday Grainger shows real potential after a captivating first episode last week.
most read in bizarre
Richard maidens
THERE could be a bit of an awkward vibe on the set of new BBC drama The Serpent.
Richard Madden’s ex- girlfriend Jenna Coleman – who he dated on and off for four years before their split in 2015 – is playing Marie-Andree Leclerc, the partner of real-life Seventies serial killer Charles Sobhraj.
But the cast also includes Les Miserables actor Ellie Bamber, who dated the Bodyguard hunk for 18 months until January this year.
Surely they must be tempted to compare notes.
The Serpent, which has yet to start filming, tells the story of Sobhraj, who was the chief suspect in the unsolved murders of up to 20 young travellers across India, Thailand and Nepal’s “Hippie Trail” in 1975 and 1976.
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