Graham William Walker, better known by his stage name Graham Norton, is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter, and columnist. He was born on April 4, 1963, in Clondalkin, Dublin, and grew up in Bandon, County Cork. Norton began his career as a comedian and stage actor in London, before transitioning to television in the late 1990s.
Norton's breakthrough role came in 1996 when he starred in the Channel 4 comedy series Father Ted as Father Noel Furlong. He went on to host a number of television shows, including So Graham Norton, V Graham Norton, and The Graham Norton Show. The latter, which first aired in 2007, has become one of the most popular and enduring comedy chat shows on British television, featuring a diverse range of celebrity guests from the worlds of film, television, music, and literature.
Aside from his work in television, Norton has also been the BBC commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2009, providing witty and irreverent commentary on the annual competition. He has also written a number of books, including a memoir, The Life and Loves of a He Devil, and a series of novels featuring a fictional version of himself. In addition to his work in media, Norton is also a well-known philanthropist, supporting a number of charitable causes including Comic Relief and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
In 2016, Norton was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to broadcasting and entertainment. He continues to host The Graham Norton Show, which is now in its 26th series, and is widely regarded as one of the most talented and versatile television presenters of his generation.