Graham Norton
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In this lively episode of Off Menu, hosts Ed Gamble and James Acaster welcome the legendary Graham Norton to their dream restaurant, where he dishes on his favorite food choices, personal anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes secrets from his career. From his love of dirty wet martinis and avocado lettuce cups at New York’s ABCV to his quirky use of the word 'darn' for salmon, Graham brings humor and authenticity to every course. He reflects on his decades-long career, from early stand-up days to hosting iconic shows like The Graham Norton Show, sharing surprising moments like interviewing Dustin Hoffman, who impersonated a Big Brother contestant. The conversation dives into his new ITV reality series, The Neighbourhood, and his podcast Wangin' On with Maria McElaine. The hosts also explore lighter topics, including bread avoidance, airplane desserts, and stolen souvenirs, culminating in a warm, self-aware farewell. The episode blends sharp wit, heartfelt moments, and a playful critique of the podcast format itself.
Graham Norton prefers a dirty wet martini with vodka and brine-rich olives, a habit born from using wine to calm nerves during early stand-up gigs.
His dream meal features avocado lettuce cups from ABCV in New York, a pan-fried 'darn' of salmon with bernaise sauce, mashed potatoes, and tiramisu—served on a plane if needed.
He reveals that 'darn' is an Irish term for a thick slice of salmon, a detail he only shared at the end of the episode as a playful reveal.
Norton’s new show, The Neighbourhood, is a reality competition where real families live together in a constructed community, blending competition with genuine connection.
He values authenticity over performance, admitting he doesn’t care about impressing guests with food choices—just being honest about his preferences.
Welcome to the Dream Restaurant: Graham Norton Arrives
Ed and James kick off the episode with a high-energy welcome, introducing Graham Norton as their guest. They tease the format, referencing their own 'red chair' parody and the secret ingredient—Golden Grahams—playfully threatening to kick him out. They preview his new ITV show, The Neighbourhood, and his podcast Wangin' On.
The Art of the Interview: Graham’s Most Surprising Guests
“It blew me away when it was the, I think he was called Johnny. He was a fireman. He was a fireman, definitely. From County Durham. And he came out... and he came on your show and you showed him a video of Dustin Hoffman pretending to be him in the diary room. It's like, what does that do to your brain?”
The Neighbourhood: A New Reality Format
“It was the people who just came in and jogged long and got on with people. They made it kind of further in the show. Sold.”
The Drink That Calms the Nerves: Martinis and Wine
“I could feel the wine going through. I could feel it in me. And just those couple of sips just took the edge off.”
The Dream Menu: From Lettuce Cups to Tiramisu
“It's toasted cumin seeds is the bit that is... Because when you're reading something, you're going to think, what is that lovely taste? What is that lovely taste? And I finally figured it out. That's what it is.”
“It's toasted cumin seeds is the bit that is... Because when you're reading something, you're going to think, what is that lovely taste? What is that lovely taste? And I finally figured it out. That's what it is.”
“It blew me away when it was the, I think he was called Johnny. He was a fireman. He was a fireman, definitely. From County Durham. And he came out... and he came on your show and you showed him a video of Dustin Hoffman pretending to be him in the diary room. It's like, what does that do to your brain?”
“I could feel the wine going through. I could feel it in me. And just those couple of sips just took the edge off.”
Hosts
Guest
Graham Norton
person
Ed Gamble
person
James Acaster
person
The Neighbourhood
media
Wangin' On
media
Nando's
other
Dustin Hoffman
person
ABCV
other
Big Brother
media
Robert De Niro
person
Regé-Jean Page
Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster • 1h 17m • 4/1/2026
John Mulaney
Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster • 1h 21m • 4/8/2026
Brian Cox
Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster • 59m • 4/15/2026
Ayoade Bamgboye
Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster • 1h 12m • 4/29/2026
Montaigne
Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster • 1h 16m • 5/6/2026
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