Gossip guy!: Graham Norton on replacing Jonathan Ross, Madonna being 'bonkers', why Felicity won't win Strictly - and his theory that malaria's gone to Cheryl's head

 Graham Norton furrows his brow. ‘I’m worried,’ he says, ‘that people will begin to think that I’ve ruthlessly set about stepping into other people’s shoes.
‘That was never my plan. I never thought: “Hmm, when Terry retires, I’ll take Eurovision. Then, when Jonathan goes, I’ll have his TV and radio show.” ’
You can see why the charge could be levelled at him. He’s already moved into Ross’s Radio 2 chair on a Saturday morning. And now he’s on the brink of occupying his recently vacated Friday evening chat show.

Upfront: TV's Graham Norton says he's never set about stepping into other people's shoes

‘But I’m not taking over where he left off,’ he protests. ‘It’s going to be my show, the one people got used to seeing on a Monday.’
Graham Norton is one of that rare breed who never say anything dull. He’s sharp, funny and a good source of gossip. He arrives unshaven and full of smiles. And it’s no surprise, as at 47, he’s at the top of his game.

 

Nonetheless, is he irked that Chris Evans recently revealed he turned down the BBC’s ­invitation to host a chat show on Friday nights before the slot was offered to Norton?
‘Hand on heart,’ says Graham, ‘I’ve no idea if that’s true.’

Wizard: Graham in the promo campaign for his show Over The Rainbow which launched in March this year

Nor does he appear to care. ‘In terms of my working life, nothing has changed. We record the show on a Thursday, hand the tape to the BBC and it’s up to them when they broadcast it. As it happens, it’s going to be Friday. There’s no point denying, though, that it’s a bit of a pat on the back, a promotion, if you like.’
Not that he’s complacent. ‘The reason the slot is coveted is because Jonathan made it that. He’ll be back at some point.’
Norton is a fan despite Sachsgate. ‘If it had been Adam and Joe on BBC6 pulling the same prank, we’d never have heard about it. But Jonathan was the £18 million man, and they were out to get him.
‘Which isn’t to endorse what he did. Jonathan himself never claimed it was a good thing to have done. I think he’s done the right thing by ­bowing out for a while. But we haven’t seen the last of him.’
So who are his dream guests? ‘Well, I’d happily invite back Dolly Parton, Cher and Glenn Close. And I’ve long been pursuing Bette Midler, which I think will happen.’ But top of the list remains Madonna. ‘We’d give her a special.’ ­
Perhaps the release of W.E., the film she’s directed about Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson, will be the hook. ‘Yes,’ he says, ‘although I do worry. I’m told she’s been hands-on with that project. But is she listening to anyone else? You can just hear it, can’t you? “What do you mean, it’s pronounced Lefftenant?”
‘But a friend of mine has recently become a sort of friend of hers. And he says she does quite a good impression of a normal person, given how Billy Bonkers she has a right to be.’
He’d also like to have a chat with Cheryl Cole. ‘She was once on the show although all she’d do was sing. But it was just after Ashley Cole had committed his latest indiscretion.’
Mention of Cheryl inevitably brings him on to The X Factor. ‘I love it, but there are just too many Jedwards in this year’s show, too many novelty acts.

Friends: Graham Norton and Andrew Lloyd Webber on a night out in London

‘And as for Cheryl’s choices…she seems to have chosen all her toys from the box of broken dolls.’ He places a forefinger on his chin. ‘Maybe the malaria went to her head,’ he muses.

No such misgivings about Strictly. ‘This year has the potential to be the best ever. The line-up is genius. Ann Widdecombe is a fantastic booking. So is Felicity Kendal, although I don’t think she’ll win. I’m not convinced women like her, and they form the ­majority of people who vote.’
When Graham Norton was poached by the BBC from Channel 4, five years ago, he had no doubt he was making the right move. ‘It afforded me opportunities that weren’t available at C4. I liked the idea of big Saturday night, shiny floor entertainment shows and I’ve been lucky to get some good ones.’
His teaming up with Andrew Lloyd Webber, to find stars for West End musicals, is a great example.
There have inevitably been some turkeys along the way, Totally Saturday — a desperate audience-participation show which wasn’t recommissioned — being an obvious example.
But, throughout it all, he never doubted his move. ‘I know who I am and the things I can do. What was harder was trying to convince the audience of that. Could they trust their teatime telly with this man? How did they know I wouldn’t suddenly wave a sex toy in the air?’

Fan: The chatshow host says that Madonna would be his dream guest on the sofa

Norton’s current contract lasts into 2012 and he’s happy to talk about money — up to a point. ‘I don’t earn as much as I used to but it’s still way, way more than most people. I understand that I had to take a pay cut, and nor do I expect sympathy.
‘The BBC is attacked for spending £50,000 on taxis or whatever. But they haven’t gone round to a pensioner’s flat, ­stolen her furniture and sold it to pay for cab rides. People pay £3 a week for a TV licence, the price of a pint of lager. That’s incredible value. I’d pay £3 for BBC1 alone, or Radio 4.
‘As it is, that buys your four TV channels, seven radio stations, online content such as iPlayer, and a lot more besides.
‘There are two great institutions in this country: the NHS and the BBC and some people seem determined to destroy both. End of rant.’
Away from all of this, he leads a distinctly unstarry life. ­Summer was spent at his house in Bantry, Co. Cork, on the southern Irish coast near his mother, sister and her family. Holiday over, it’s back to his house in Wapping, where he lives alone.
His new book, Ask Graham, is a collection of his Agony Uncle newspaper columns. ‘You’d be amazed at how much emotional energy people put into trying to be part of a couple. I have the letters to prove it.
‘I always say: nobody’s going to be attracted to that. Unless you’re happy in your own skin, and life, who would want to share it with you?’
His hasn’t been an entirely monastic life. For five years, he lived with writer, Scott Michaels, but Norton’s fame ultimately did for that relationship.
There was also an on-off affair with a young man called Kristian Seeber that lasted for about the same length of time. Since then, he’s been happily unattached.
‘I look at the majority of relationships and I think: “No, I don’t want that. I don’t want to make that level of compromise.”
‘I wouldn’t think my life had been a failure if I never ended up in another relationship. I’ve ­chosen a different life. It’s no worse, just different. But us singles are viewed suspiciously and most of the pressure comes from people in unhappy relationships. I can’t help feeling they want us to be as unhappy as they are.’
He remains resolutely upbeat. ‘I think you’ve got to live life assuming the best day is yet to come.
‘Professionally speaking, I love what I do. I thought the last series of the chat show was the best ever and I hope we’ll ­surpass that this time round.
‘The only programme I’d still love to do is a middle-of-the-night radio phone-in where I’d try solving people’s problems.’
And how does he enjoy all this good fortune? ‘Fancy flying. I went to New York recently, and the money I spent on the flight was stupid. It was nice but not that much nicer than sitting in the back of the plane. Plus, we all got there at the same time.
‘Oh, and I drink nicer wines and eat in nicer restaurants.’ He laughs. ‘Pitiful, isn’t it?’
The Graham Norton Show is on BBC1 next Friday night. Ask Graham (John Blake Publishing) is out now.