Hosting a TV chat show, judging RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, writing novels, hosting a radio show, doing a podcast – Graham Norton has to be one of showbiz’s busiest stars.
But as he recently said before winning a coveted RTS Award: “My work is fun. It rarely feels like work.”
He is also one of British TV’s most highly paid and best loved presenters, with The Graham Norton Show still attracting every A-lister in town.
And his novel Holding was recently turned into a critically acclaimed ITV drama.
As Graham turns 59 today (Monday 4 April), we take a look at his love life.
Maria McErlane
Graham has never married, but jokingly refers to his best friend Maria as his ‘wife.’
Maria has been acting since 1984, appearing hit shows such as Holby City, Eurotash and The Fast Show.
The two have worked together for years, first in television and then on Graham’s Radio 2 and Virgin Radio shows, with Maria even stepping in to cover Graham when he has been forced to pull out of work due to illness.
They are very close and have an easy bond which listeners love.
Kristian Seeber
Graham was in a relationship with New York performer Kristian – better known as drag queen Tina Burner – for five years in the early Noughties.
Discussing their time together in his memoir The Life and Loves of a He Devil, he said that Kristian was “tall and broad-shouldered with an easy smile that took up half his face.”
“I concede he was not great boyfriend material,” he added, “what they [his friends] couldn’t see was the special spark that fires within him.”
Their relationship was on-and-off, with Kristian even moving in to Graham’s London home.
“The experiment lasted for about six months and it was a disaster,” he reflected.
Trevor Patterson
Canadian software designer Trevor and Graham dated for two years, from 2011 to 2013.
After they split, Graham reflected on the impact that his fame had on his relationships.
“I’ve always found relationships hard. Whoever you’re going out with – they now have that added complication of my fame,” he told the Irish Mirror.
“At the beginning it is very seductive and fun because it gives you access to a world you wouldn’t have access to and that is great.
“There’s a bit of alpha in any male. That then becomes difficult. It’s not enough that you get an invitation to a party. You want to be invited in your own right – and that’s not going to happen.”
Andrew Smith
Graham dated music marketing consultant Andrew Smith up to 2015.
The couple enjoyed a two week holiday in Malaysia and walked the red carpet together at a VIP showing of the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition in London.
However, the relationship didn’t go the distance and Graham eventually became single once again, and has not been public with another romance since, although has faced rumours about his love life.
Single life
In 2018 there were unconfirmed reports that Graham was seeing a crew member on The Graham Norton Show. It’s not known if they are still an item.
He has previously he said that he doesn’t mind being single, explaining: “You have your own rules as you get older. I would prefer to live alone for the rest of my life rather than live with towels that were folded incorrectly.
“Petty is important. That’s why marriages break up. Marriages don’t break up because of big things.”
He’s also been open about using Tinder before, telling Closer magazine: “That’s weird that it creates headlines. Are they trying to embarrass me? I’m a single person, why wouldn’t I go on Tinder?”
He has since deleted the app, saying: “I was on Tinder a couple of years ago, but I’m not on it now. I felt like I’d done it.
“There’s a law of diminishing returns on Tinder, I met a few people and thought, ‘God, there are a lot of broken people in the world and I don’t really need to meet them.’ I don’t need to be part of their damage.”
Holding continues at 9pm Monday on ITV, and is available on the ITV Hub.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
