Graham Norton changed his surname
from Walker to Norton when he learned that there was already someone with
the name Graham Walker in Actors Equity. His family respected his sexual identity
from an early age and were never shocked by his cross dressing
before he out grew it and went to school. The openly flamboyant gay
comedian launched his show business career at The Eagle pub in Clerkenwell
was where he called himself "The Karen Carpenter Bar and Grill" and "Mother
Teresa of Calcutta's Grand Farewell Tour." Following this success, he took
his show on to the Edinburgh Festival fringe from 1992 to 1997.
He was given the role of hyperactive priest Father Noel Furlong in the hit
Irish comedy Father Ted.
In 2006, Graham hosted the BBC One series
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? Graham has subsequently presented the three follow-up series: Any
Dream Will Do in 2007, I'd Do Anything in 2008, and Over the
Rainbow in 2010. Most Americans became aware of him
when from his BBC chat show, The Graham Norton Show, began on 22
February 2007 on BBC.
Graham's often over-the-top campy performances on The Graham Norton Show
have earned him a legion of fans on both sides of the pond.
He describes himself on the Channel 4
website as a "shiny Irish poof." His exceedingly camp style gives him the
license to be exceedingly rude without being offensive, and his quick wit,
put-downs and one-liners have made him a cult icon.
However, Graham was once reprimanded by the
BBC for some of his comments including what thy considered a "homophobic"
joke about the haircuts of lesbians when looking at a photo that looked
similar to Gertrude Stein. Actress
Ruth Jones who was one of his guests on the show when he made the
comment then challenged the Irish comedian, saying: "She may not be a
lesbian, come on now." Norton then replied: ‘You’re right, she could have
gone to a very bad hairdresser". Then when Graham tried to play down the
comments by saying there was nothing wrong with being a lesbian, Gavin and
Stacey comedy star Jones said: "I know I am just saying what does a lesbian
look like?" Then Norton fired back: "That!" A BBC statement said:
"Although
the initial references might have been inoffensive if considered on their
own, they prompted an exchange with one of the programme’s guests which gave
the references the appearance of perpetuating or reinforcing a potentially
offensive stereotype."
So to celebrate Graham's birthday, we suggest a dish as campy as he is,
Beer-Butt Chicken, while watching Graham in I Could Never Be Your
Woman (2007).
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