Graham Norton Show Delights With Star Guests Despite Late Slot

Friday night television in the UK is rarely as reliably entertaining as when Graham Norton takes over BBC One with his signature blend of wit, warmth, and a sofa packed with celebrities. But on January 23, 2026, loyal fans of The Graham Norton Show found themselves checking the clock and perhaps reaching for a late-night coffee, as the beloved talk show was bumped from its usual 10:40pm slot to a much later 11:15pm start. The culprit? A bumper night of Traitors programming, including its highly anticipated final and the spin-off Uncloaked, which took precedence in the BBC’s Friday night lineup.

For those who managed to stay up, the late start proved worth the wait. According to TV Guide, Graham Norton assembled a star-studded panel that included TV icons Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, acclaimed actress Claire Foy, Stranger Things favorite Joe Keery, and a live musical performance from Tinie Tempah. Each brought their own stories, laughs, and a touch of behind-the-scenes magic to the famous red sofa, ensuring viewers were rewarded for their patience.

Ant and Dec, as the duo is affectionately known, were in high spirits promoting their new podcast, Hanging Out with Ant & Dec. Life, they explained, has become increasingly busy as both juggle young families and the demands of television. Dec shared with Norton, “We both have small kids and live further apart so if a podcast is in the diary, it forces us to get out and get together. We know each other inside out and we make each other laugh so hopefully people will like it. Our wives are more nervous than us – they think we might give too much away!”

The pair didn’t disappoint, regaling Norton and the audience with tales from their decades in showbiz. One highlight was Dec’s rediscovered 1990s diary, which Ant confessed made his “toes curl backwards.” But perhaps the most memorable anecdote involved an awkward encounter with King Charles during a sleepover at Dumfries House. Ant recounted, “We were following him for a year for a TV show and got on really well with him. We were asked if we would like to spend the night at the house ahead of the final interview. I tried on the robe that was in my room and ran out into the corridor to find Dec, and there was the Prince. He said hello and started talking to me about pruning roses. I was so embarrassed.”

Claire Foy, known for her regal turn in The Crown, discussed a very different royal subject – the world of falconry. Preparing for her role in H is for Hawk, Foy had to overcome her fear of birds of prey. She told Norton, “I had to get to a competent level of falconry, so I wasn’t afraid of them. I came to appreciate them from a position of love and I really miss them.” Her candor and enthusiasm for the craft offered a glimpse into the often unseen dedication actors bring to their roles.

Meanwhile, Joe Keery, fresh from the final ever episode of Netflix’s Stranger Things, reflected on the end of an era. “I woke up on New Year’s Day and felt, ‘Wow, that’s the end of an era’,” he admitted. Keery also touched on the unexpected success of his song “End of Beginning,” calling the response “crazy.” The audience, no doubt, could relate to the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to a series that has become a cultural touchstone.

Musical duties for the evening fell to Tinie Tempah, who performed his latest single “Energy” live. The rapper and entrepreneur also spoke candidly about stepping back from the spotlight and his new role as a guest judge on Dragons’ Den. It was a performance and conversation that, in true Graham Norton fashion, blended entertainment with insight.

But what many viewers may not realize is how much effort goes into creating the seamless on-screen chemistry that The Graham Norton Show is famous for. In a revealing interview with Metro, producer Graham Stuart lifted the curtain on the show’s meticulous approach to seating arrangements. “Interesting question from one of your media-savvy listeners. My answer can be summed up thus: welcome to showbusiness, where all stars are equal but some are more equal than others,” Stuart quipped.

He explained that “seat one,” the spot closest to Norton, is the most coveted, with publicists working overtime to secure it for their clients. “Media hierarchy is primarily driven by publicists and seat one, which is the seat next to Graham, is the primary aim of all of them for their clients. Our sofa is so star-packed that those publicists have to work very hard to get what they want.” The other seats, while not strictly hierarchical, are arranged to maximize on-air chemistry. The end spot on the sofa is traditionally reserved for a “funny person” or someone adept at keeping the conversation lively from a distance. As co-host Richard Osman once noted, “a person who plays the game correctly is literally someone who is fun in conversation and who wants to hear from other people and who can throw in their own things which are funny and fun, but also can be sat a fair amount of distance from [Norton].”

Over the years, the show has seen some truly eclectic guest combinations – Taylor Swift with Cillian Murphy, Miriam Margolyes alongside Stanley Tucci, and even former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern sharing laughs with Alan Carr. The magic, it seems, is all in the mix, both of personalities and of where they sit.

Behind the scenes, there are plenty of quirks. Stuart shared one particularly odd request from a major artist: “I can’t give a name but we once had a major artist insist on a second dressing room. Which, you know, that’s fair enough. But…it was for their phone.” It’s little details like these that remind us even the biggest stars have their peculiarities.

And while the show has welcomed a veritable who’s who of the entertainment world, there are still some “white whales” left. Graham Norton himself admitted, “He’s [Brad Pitt] one of those ones that we keep getting close to, and then it doesn’t happen. In America, I think he doesn’t sit on the couch. He’ll do skits with them. He’ll play little games and stuff, so we’ve never had him sat down. Maybe we never will.”

As the clock ticked past midnight and the credits rolled at 12:05am on January 24, 2026, it was clear that even a schedule shake-up couldn’t dull the shine of The Graham Norton Show. With its unique blend of celebrity, comedy, and a touch of unpredictability, the show remains a Friday night staple – even if it sometimes keeps its fans up a little later than planned.