A producer on The Graham Norton Show has shed light on one of the most shocking backstage requests made by a star guest on the hit show.
Graham Stuart has worked with the Irish legend for over two decades, on previous shows as well as his eponymous BBC show which kicked off in 2007.
Speaking to Metro, the honcho detailed how a guest on the show’s roster – which has boasted a whole realm of names ranging from Lady Gaga to Mark Wahlberg – once made the most bizarre request he had ever heard.
While avoiding names, Graham explosively divulged: ‘I can’t give names, 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.’
Despite the demands, he insisted that the BBC will not tolerate the diva-like requests of the megastars to whome Graham’s sofa plays host.
He continued: ‘This is a really important show for the entertainment business. You’re not going to mess around. You can ask for insane things…
‘But why would we, why would we give them? There’s no sorting colours of M&M’s that sort of thing although [we do obviously] want to look after people and make them feel comfortable.’
The now-legendary phone story was regaled by Graham himself back in 2018.
He explained: ‘Someone from their team came running into the production office saying, “It’s a 911 situation. We need another dressing room!”‘
‘We managed it but said, “Just out of interest, what’s it for?” Completely straight-faced [they replied]: “They want to charge their phone.”
‘That took our breath away. How somebody’s life gets to that point, where they cannot be in the same room as their phone, is beyond me.’
It’s not the first time the veteran TV host has spoken candidly about the celebrity guests he’s featured on The Graham Norton Show.
Graham, a five-time BAFTA TV award winner, has interviewed a plethora of stars in his illustrious career.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph in 2017, Graham revealed who his best and worst celebrity guests have been. He divulged that Tom Cruise was among his favourites, with the actor an ‘incredible’ guest who remembers everyone’s names on set.
The TV veteran was also a fan of actors Will Smith and Tom Hanks, who he deemed great interviewees. However there were no sparks between Graham and Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke, who he describes as ‘exhausting’ and ‘tiresome’.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
