Graham Norton on Hosting Eurovision, Late Night TV and Why Singing Drag Queens Warm His Heart
variety.comK.J. Yossman Graham Norton is one of the U.K.’s best-loved hosts. As well as interviewing guests from Tom Cruise to Adele on his weekly chat show, “The Graham Norton Show,” he is infamous for his biting commentary of the Eurovision Song Contest on BBC One, where he doesn’t hesitate to poke (gentle) fun at both the institution and the acts.And, as Variety revealed last year, now Norton is the host of “Queen of the Universe,” a new drag queen singing competition from World of Wonder, the producers behind “Ru Paul’s Drag Race,” which also features Leona Lewis, Trixie Mattel, Michelle Visage and Vanessa Williams on the judging panel.Ahead of Paramount+ launching in the U.K.
on June 22, Norton sat down with Variety to discuss drag queens, Eurovision and whether he would ever work in late night TV. You no doubt get asked to host a lot of projects.
What was it about “Queen of the Universe” that made you say ‘yes’?Well, for me, you know, I do get asked to do things.
And most it’s, 1) I don’t want to watch that, 2) I can’t be bothered to leave my house. So this – it was a very easy yes. It’s drag queens and it’s international drag queens and they’re singing live.
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