Over the years, Graham Norton has worked his way up to national treasure status and is one of the best-loved TV presenters in the UK. He’s picked the brains of some of our most influential and successful celebs on his own BBC chat show, and delighted the nation as the host of the Eurovision Song Contest since 2007. As he prepares to celebrate his 60th birthday, Closer looks at the wisdom Graham has gathered along the way…
‘LET HORRID COMMENTS GO’
Born 4 April, 1963, Graham grew up in Ireland, where he wasn’t always accepted for his quirks. Opening up about his childhood, he explained, “I never felt like a confident child. I always felt very timid.” But early on in life, his mother, Rhoda, gave him some advice that completely shaped his future – and became a mantra he lives by even today. In 2017, he revealed, “My mother saw I was ripe for bullying and, when I was four, told me if people picked on me, never to react. It worked! I let horrid comments online go off into the ether.”
‘GET A DOG’
Graham has said that one of the biggest and most consistent loves in his life has been for dogs. He was the happy owner of a labradoodle called Bailey and a terrier called Madge, who he regularly shared on his Instagram. When the dogs passed away within years of each other, Graham was heartbroken, but also discovered a newfound appreciation for life and finding joy in the little moments. Talking about his four-legged friends last year, Graham said, “There’s something, no matter how you’re feeling, a dog, the thump of their tail… They are the consummate experts at living in the moment.”
‘THERE ARE UPSIDES TO AGEING’
As he prepares to reach the milestone age of 60, Graham revealed that he still feels exactly the same as he did all those years ago – but that the secret to ageing is always being willing to learn. Reflecting on his life last year, he shared, “I still feel vibrant and alive, and I don’t feel ready to sit in a rocking chair and stare at the sunset. But at the same time, you have to go, ‘Wow, there’s less of this life than there was.’ I think you have to make decisions in a different way. Hopefully I’m not making as many of the same mistakes.”
‘BEING DEVASTATED IS SOMETIMES WORTH IT’
Last year, Graham found his happily ever after marrying filmmaker Jonathan McLeod, 45 – but the path to true love wasn’t easy. Over the years, the star has endured his fair share of heartbreak, having dated the likes of Trevor Patterson, 40, and drag queen Kristian Seeber, 42 – otherwise known as Tina Burner. But despite his failed relationships, Graham has insisted that heartbreak has been an important life lesson for him – and something he is grateful for. Opening up last year, he said, “It’s great to be devastated. That’s a nic
