The Graham Norton Show host Graham Norton has been on the red couch with a number of A-listers
Katy Hallam and Lucretia Munro
23:17, 12 Oct 2025
Graham Norton has revealed a challenging interview with a Hollywood star(Image: PA)
It remains one of the most frequently posed questions to television chat show presenters, and now Graham Norton has finally disclosed who ranks as his most challenging guest on The Graham Norton Show.
The host has invited major A-list celebrities onto his famous red sofa for more than 18 years, though not every encounter has proved delightful.
Enter Hollywood legend Mark Wahlberg. The acclaimed actor appeared on the BBC programme back in 2013 to publicise his film Broken City.
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Graham suspects the star was intoxicated, rendering the interview “hell.”
Host Graham, 62, made these revelations whilst speaking at the Henley Literary Festival last Friday.
In a candid confession, he disclosed: “Mark Wahlberg was a weird one because when he arrived, he didn’t seem drunk.”
He continued: “He told me about his film, told me a couple of stories about stunts going wrong or whatever, and then it was only 15 minutes into the show when whatever the hell was in his system really took hold – and it was hell.”, reports the Mirror.
Mark Wahlberg appeared on the show in 2013(Image: PA)
Matters deteriorated to such an extent that Mark began interrupting fellow guests during their responses, before Mark allegedly nodded off whilst actor Michael Fassbender was mid-way through sharing an anecdote.
According to The Independent, Graham went on: “I thought, ‘this one is going well – I wonder why’ and I looked over at Mark Wahlberg and he was asleep, so yeah, we don’t encourage that.”
Earlier this month, the future of his television programme was revealed and it appears devoted viewers can relax as it has been renewed for a further three series. The 34th series is scheduled to broadcast next year.
Discussing the continuation of his enormously popular programme, the legendary presenter commented on the announcement: “Getting to host my own chat show is a huge pleasure as well as a privilege. I’m thrilled that the BBC are allowing me to continue for another three years. The whole team is looking forward to bringing the world’s brightest stars into the homes of the great British public!”.
Meanwhile, Head of Entertainment Kalpna Patel-Knight remarked: “We are thrilled that The Graham Norton Show will remain a flagship part of the BBC’s entertainment offering for another three series. Graham sets the gold standard for celebrity interviews and continues to attract the best global talent to his sofa, it’s no wonder that the show remains so beloved by our audiences.”
Graham will carry on collaborating with So Television production company alongside the BBC. Managing Director of So Television Graham Stuart, added: “We began the Norton Talk Show journey in 1998 and have never felt like stopping. So happy the BBC feel the same way.”
But it’s not just his professional commitments that are keeping him occupied, as his personal life is equally hectic whilst the television personality finds himself amid a house move after offloading both his London and New York homes.
Speaking to his podcast listeners about the relocation, he revealed that the entire process has left him feeling “frazzled.”
Discussing the move on his Wanging On with Graham Norton and Maria McErlane podcast, he explained: “I’m very frazzled. We are attempting to move. We are very lucky in that we are able to move slowly, bit by bit.”