Graham Norton’s couch is staying put on this side of the pond. As the U.K.-based host’s long-running talker “The Graham Norton Show” returns for its Season 34 premiere next week, the show’s U.S. distribution has already been secured for two more seasons by AMC Global Media. That means “The Graham Norton Show” will remain on BBC America — its linear stateside home for many years — through Seasons 34 (2026-2027) and 35 (2027-2028), while also continuing on three AMC Global Media streaming platforms: Acorn TV, AMC+ and All Reality.
Last season averaged 153,000 linear viewers on BBC America, its best performance in three years, while Acorn TV (where most of the streaming audience watches) saw a year-over-year bump and AMC+ more than doubled its streaming audience over the previous season. He’s warm and engaging and charismatic. He is an incredibly skilled interviewer, and I think he’s built a format that we call the ultimate late night celebrity dinner party … We talk about how his show really sits at the perfect intersection of a sort of uniquely British sophistication and broad pop culture appeal.” For Norton, who is signed in the U.K. with BBC One to continue his show through at least 2029, it’s an opportunity to continue expanding his audience in the U.S. as well.
When I go to America, I don’t feel like anybody knows who I am. But there are certain situations where they do, and this must speak to the demographic of who watches this thing. If I go to a Broadway theater, everyone, all the kids who work there, know who I am.
I can’t explain that, but it’s very nice. I often get a free drink!” Of course, Norton got plenty of global attention earlier this year when he appeared in Taylor Swift’s music video for “Opalite” — along with the guests she sat alongside on Norton’s couch in a Season 33 episode: Cillian Murphy, Domhnall Gleeson, Greta Lee, Jodie Smith and Lewis Capaldi. Why is this very strange ragtag of people all together in a video?’ And of course, there were the conspiracy theories where they thought we had filmed the video before the show, and that’s why everyone was on the show with her, rather than the other way around.” In premiering the video, Swift called “The Graham Norton Show” one of her favorite programs, and even described Norton as “the insanely charismatic and lovable host” who “invites a random group of actors, entertainers, musicians, etc. to be on his show and we all sit there and chat like it’s a dinner party.” Not a bad promo from the global superstar.
Norton credited that kind of positive on-set vibe, as described by Swift, for why the show has lasted for 34 seasons and counting. But if the people in the clips aren’t having a good time, they’re not going to come back. We need returning guests.
Here in Britain, there have been talk shows in the past where they had gotcha moments or embarrassed the guests. That’s not sustainable.” Norton’s guest list from Season 33 proved that his philosophy is working: Besides Swift, it included Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Matthew McConaughey, Julia Roberts, Colin Farrell, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bruce Springsteen, Jeremy Allen White, Jennifer Lawrence, Tessa Thompson, Kim Kardashian, Glen Powell, Michelle Yeoh, Kate Hudson, Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet, Emma Thompson, Laura Dern, Cynthia Erivo, Halle Berry, Chris Hemsworth, Jacob Elordi, Jennifer Garner, Charli XCX and many more. I think people behave differently in front of an audience.
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