Graham Norton 'bored' of Britain

11 April 2012

Graham Norton claims he is 'bored' with England and is in no hurry to return - despite his £3.5million deal with the BBC.

He says he is thrilled about finding success with his U.S. show The Graham Norton Effect, and would rather live in New York than London.

The only reason he might return, he says, would be to find romance, because he is 'more famous' on this side of the Atlantic.

The corporation signed Norton to an 'exclusive' six-month deal in April after poaching him from Channel 4, where his risquè chat show So Graham Norton was a runaway success.

BBC bosses hoped he would become the 'saviour' of their Saturday night schedules.

But because the contract does not extend to America, the Irish comedian has been able to spend most of his time since April in New York.

His show, which goes out on the cable channel Comedy Central, has been a critical success and he is hoping a second series will be commissioned.

The BBC has even had to pay to screen The Graham Norton Effect on BBC3. Now the 41-year-old has told the Boston Globe newspaper he does not want to leave.

'I have no interest in going home,' he said. 'The idea seemed interesting two months ago. But now that we're here, we couldn't be more bored by the idea of going home.

'I want Comedy Central to pick the show up again. I imagine the BBC will be a bit upset if they read this.' BBC bosses have been growing increasingly anxious about his commitment to them.

Norton was supposed to be making a second pilot for the corporation in September.

But with weeks to go, it is not clear whether a show format has even been decided.

Several pilot shows have been rejected and entertainment staff have been told to come up with better ideas.

Earlier this month, Jane Lush, the corporation' s controller of entertainment commissioning, even flew out to New York to see Norton.

In the newspaper interview, Norton also spoke about his risquè brand of humour.

'People talk about the difference between British humour and American humour,' he said. 'The good - well, the good and bad thing about our show - is that ours is just really childish humour. It's not sophisticated, urbane commentary on society - it's just ****ing jokes.

'So I think that kind of - I was going to say transcends - whatever the opposite of transcends is, the cultural divide. It sort of tunnels under the cultural divide.'

He also prefers the New York nightlife to that in London

'The big thing for me in New York is that it's open until four o'clock in the morning, and I'm used to things closing at 11.

'I've yet to work out that just because bars are open till four, it doesn't mean I have to stay until four. I'm having to get my head round that.'

Last night, a BBC spokesman said: ' We don't have any comment to make.'

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Graham Norton 'bored' of Britain

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