Joe Keery And Tinie Tempah Shine On Graham Norton

On January 23, 2026, viewers across the United Kingdom tuned in to BBC One and iPlayer for a star-studded episode of The Graham Norton Show. The guest couch was packed with a diverse lineup: beloved television duo Ant and Dec, acclaimed actress Clare Foy, chart-topping musician and Stranger Things star Joe Keery, and the ever-charismatic Tinie Tempah. What followed was a lively, candid, and occasionally hilarious conversation that offered unexpected insights into the lives and careers of these celebrated figures.

Ant and Dec—Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly—kicked off the evening with a story that had the audience in stitches. The pair recounted an unforgettable night spent at Dumfries House, the stately home of then Prince Charles. As Ant recalled, “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. We were like ‘Hell, yes.’ It was amazing and everything you’d imagine. 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.” Dec added, “We then had wine in the room and got a bit noisy. We took it a bit far and were asked to be quiet!” According to the BBC, the story captured the easy rapport and mischievous spirit that have made Ant and Dec household names.

The conversation turned to their latest project, a podcast titled Hanging Out with Ant & Dec. Dec explained the motivation behind the new venture: “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.” Ant chimed in, “It really is just two mates catching up.” The duo’s chemistry remains as strong as ever, with Ant joking about Dec’s lost 90s diary: “Some of it makes my toes curl backwards in my shoes!”

Clare Foy, the Emmy-winning actress known for her roles in The Crown and First Man, was on hand to discuss her new film, H is for Hawk. When asked about the movie’s exploration of grief, Foy reflected, “There is an avoidance of death, but this story brings it out into the open and discusses it.” She described her journey learning falconry for the role: “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. They are not affectionate creatures but there was a real connection.” The film, which delves into the complexities of loss and healing, resonated with both the actress and the audience, according to BBC coverage.

But perhaps the most poignant moments of the evening came from Joe Keery, the 33-year-old actor and musician who has recently found himself at the center of a global pop phenomenon. Known to millions as Steve Harrington from Stranger Things, Keery opened up about the show’s conclusion on New Year’s Eve 2025. “It definitely did when the last show came out on New Year’s Eve. I woke up on New Year’s Day and felt, ‘Wow, that’s the end of an era.’ It is so finite and done which is bittersweet,” Keery told Graham Norton.

Yet if one chapter closed, another opened in dramatic fashion. Keery’s song “End of Beginning,” released under his musical alias Djo in 2024, shot to the top of the charts in the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Sweden—an achievement he admitted left him “shocked and confused.” As he shared on the show, “It is crazy. I am shocked and confused about the whole thing. Hearing it in a taxi was cool, and I knew it was big when my grandma asked me about it!” According to TownSquare Media, the song’s sudden surge in popularity followed the emotional finale of Stranger Things, suggesting that fans were eager to connect with Keery’s artistic voice beyond the screen.

Keery explained that much of his music was crafted during downtime on the Stranger Things set. “There is so much down-time on set, so I wrote and recorded. Being an actor means a lot of waiting so it’s good to be proactive and busy,” he said. The creative process, he revealed, was deeply personal: “It started as a break-up song but landed in a place of deep gratitude for the people in my life.”

He also credited his co-star Winona Ryder for her unwavering support and influence on his musical journey. In an interview with ELLE magazine, Keery described Ryder as an “encyclopedia” of music and film: “She really knows her stuff—loves music and film, maybe more than anyone else in my life. I’ll get a random text, like, ‘Here’s an isolated Marvin Gaye vocal track from the stems that they never used from this song’—The deepest cuts. She’s like an encyclopedia, and she’s eager to share. She’s been to a million shows. It’s cool to have someone who’s just really excited by all of this.” Initially intimidated by Ryder, Keery soon came to appreciate her passion and investment in both music and acting.

The night’s musical highlight belonged to Tinie Tempah, who performed his single “Energy” live in the studio. The rapper and producer spoke candidly about his extended break from the music industry. “I went on a long hiatus and took a step back to immerse myself in actual life. This rollercoaster life is incredible but for me it wasn’t real. I settled down, had kids and did loads of stuff that made me feel fulfilled,” Tinie said. He also reflected on his stint as a guest Dragon on Dragons’ Den: “It was one of the best experiences, and a great learning curve for me.”

The January 23 episode was a testament to The Graham Norton Show’s enduring appeal—its ability to blend laughter, heartfelt stories, and genuine moments of reflection. Each guest brought something unique: Ant and Dec’s comic timing and warmth, Clare Foy’s thoughtful candor, Joe Keery’s vulnerability and surprise at his own success, and Tinie Tempah’s honesty about stepping back to find fulfillment. For viewers, it was a rare chance to see public figures let their guards down and share the joys, anxieties, and unexpected turns of their lives.

Next week’s show promises another stellar lineup, with guests including Halle Berry, Chris Hemsworth, Rachel McAdams, John Bishop, and Jessie Ware. But for now, the January 23 episode stands as a snapshot of British entertainment at its best—witty, heartfelt, and refreshingly real.