Graham Norton rejects sex jokes to avoid being 'creepy'

Graham Norton has dismissed the idea that "woke culture" has stifled his comedy, instead suggesting that his shift away from raunchy material is a natural consequence of aging.

Speaking at Advertising Week in central London on Monday, 30 March 2026, the 63-year-old presenter reflected on his early career highlights from So Graham Norton, which debuted in 1998.

"I would be running around the audience... getting people to tell me their sex stories," Norton recalled. "I was 30-something then. Now I am 60-something. If I was doing that, that would just be creepy."

He credited his loyal audience for allowing him to evolve on television over two decades without the transition feeling "depressing."

Joined by Maria McEelane, his co-host on the Wanging On podcast, Norton also shared candid behind-the-scenes memories of his legendary sofa.

He revealed that while most guests adapt to the multi-guest format, some remain a challenge. He specifically noted an encounter with Kevin Costner, who remained "monosyllabic" with Norton but opened up instantly when fellow guest Helen Mirren asked a similar question.

"He felt Helen Mirren was worthy. Whereas, you know, ‘F...er over there’," Norton joked, though he admitted he didn't mind as long as the audience heard the stories.

The host also reminisced about a particularly chaotic episode featuring Matt Damon, Bill Murray, and Hugh Bonneville, whom he suspected had spent the afternoon "prepping" with drinks at Claridge’s.

Norton joked that the show ended "just in time" before the revelry became too much, though he cherished Damon’s drunken declaration that it was the "best chat show ever."

Looking to the future, Norton playfully considered McEelane’s suggestion to trademark his likeness as an AI entity for retirement, noting he has already explored digital versions of his brand.