Norton: They make me 'too gay'
Sunday, 23 Apr 2006 14:32
Norton: They make me 'too gay'
Graham Norton has revealed how unhappy he is at being made to appear too gay on television.
The comedian, who has made the most of his camp qualities to land shows such as So Graham Norton and Strictly Dance Fever, says he is now feeling uneasy about it.
Norton, 43, who is openly gay, says his television bosses are constantly putting pressure on him to act more flamboyantly.
In a BBC documentary to be aired tomorrow night, he says he hates having to constantly make gay references and jokes in his shows.
"I am surrounded with scores of straight producers making sure I am as gay this week as I was last week," he says.
The BBC signed the popular television host in 2004 in a two-year £5 million deal in the belief that Norton would be the saviour of their Saturday night programming.
But the Irish comedian has struggled to find a format that suits his own personal style.
He has presented Strictly Dance Fever and The Bigger Picture, but neither has measured up to the success of his Channel 4 late-night chat show.
Norton is now due to present How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, in which wannabe musical stars audition for the lead role in the West End show The Sound of Music.
