The presenter used to host a series in Norton\u2019s slot, starting in 2001, but he jumped to ITV after being dropped by the BBC<\/a> in 2010. <\/p>\n Since then, The Graham Norton Show<\/a>, which premiered on BBC Two in 2007, has gone from strength to strength, becoming a favourite stop-off for the most globally recognisable faces<\/a>, including Julia Roberts and Harrison Ford \u2013 and even earning him an invite to Taylor Swift\u2019s wedding<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ross, whose ITV chat show has aired on Saturday nights since 2011, has expressed confusion over why Norton books all the A-listers from overseas while his sofa is typically filled with British talent.<\/p>\n \u201cHe gets American names \u2013 and I am not quite sure why that is,\u201d he told The Times<\/a> when asked if Norton gets more famous guests.<\/p>\n \u201cI think they have a better relationship with the studios, and by \u2018better\u2019, I mean more conciliatory.\u201d<\/p>\n However, the presenter, who appeared on BBC\u2019s Celebrity Traitors<\/a> in 2025, said he doesn\u2019t think his show \u201cis any weaker\u201c because of the lower calibre of celebrity guests.<\/p>\n \u201cWe put a lot of thought into the mix of people we get on. I try not to have all actors. I try not to have all comedians. I try to have a variety of ages and, obviously, sexes.\u201d<\/p>\n He also acknowledged that Norton\u2019s overnight viewing figures are \u201cslightly better\u201d, but said \u201con catch-up, we are about the same\u201d.<\/p>\n Ross continued: \u201cLast week, for example, our show beat the BBC until the news came on. So it\u2019s a healthy show. I don\u2019t think his figures are much better than mine.\u201d The Independent has contacted the BBC and Norton for comment.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Jonathan Ross has reflected on his chat show rivalry with Graham Norton (BBC)<\/p>\n Norton presented his first chat show, So Graham Norton, on Channel 4 from 1998 to 2003. Two years later, he began hosting a myriad of shows for the BBC, including several Andrew Lloyd Webber reality shows<\/a> searching for new leads for West End productions. <\/p>\n The success of these led to Norton being given his own 30-minute chat show on BBC Two in 2007, which was promoted to an hour-long slot on BBC One in 2009. <\/p>\n In 2025, Norton\u2019s show, now onto its 33rd series and averaging 2.9 million viewers per episode, was renewed for another three runs, ensuring the host would remain on the air until at least 2028. <\/p>\n At its height, Ross\u2019s former BBC show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross averaged 3.1 million weekly viewers. The show, which ended permanently in 2010, was initially pulled in 2008 after the presenter and Russell Brand prank-called Fawlty Towers actor <\/a>Andrew Sachs<\/a> during Brand\u2019s BBC Radio 2 show.<\/p>\n The pair made several calls to Sachs, and Brand left a voice message saying he\u2019d had sex with Sachs\u2019s granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. They were both suspended by the BBC without pay and, while it was reported he decided against a new contract with the corporation, he has since said he \u201cgot kicked out\u201d.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Jonathan Ross has hosted his ITV chat show since 2011 (ITV)<\/p>\n At the time, Ross said: “I am deeply sorry and greatly regret the upset and distress that my juvenile and thoughtless remarks on the Russell Brand show have caused. <\/p>\n \u201cI have not issued a statement previously because it was my intention and desire to offer an apology to all those offended on my Friday night programme. However, it was a stupid error of judgement on my part, and I offer a full apology.” <\/p>\n In the new interview, Ross said he didn\u2019t want to talk about the subject as he \u201cwants to avoid the issue\u201d as \u201cit has an impact on the lives of those who should never have been dragged into something like that in the first place\u201d.<\/p>\n At its height, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross averaged 3.1 million weekly viewers.<\/p>\n![\"Jonathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jonathan-Ross-Graham-Norton.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Jonathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-02-27-at-08-58-34.png\")
<\/p>\n
![\"Claudia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-01-14-at-11-42-05.png\")
<\/p>\n