He is one of the most beloved presenters and talk show hosts on our screens.
But away from the glitz and glamour of TV work on the hugely-popular Graham Norton Show, awards shows and Eurovision commentary he enjoys a low-key happy life with his husband.
Graham, 62, married Scottish filmmaker partner Jonathan ‘Jono’ McLeod in 2022 in a private ceremony in Cork attended by just 120 guests.
And the pair live a life away from the Showbiz circuit, regularly spending time in Graham’s native Ireland and are never seen together at public events.
This week it was revealed that Graham has put his gorgeous New York townhouse on the market just a week after revealing he was also selling his £4.95million east London mansion after 20 years of living in the grade-II listed home.
Amid the move Graham said he was ‘finally feeling brave enough to make a big change in his life’ – possibly alluding to stepping back from the spotlight even more with his husband.
He told The Sunday Times: ‘We’ve been thinking about it for a couple of years and I finally feel brave enough to make a huge change to my life.
‘My favourite times have definitely been enjoying a drink sitting by the river on a summer’s evening.’
So what does Graham Norton’s quiet life with his husband look like?
Away from the glitz and glamour of TV work, awards shows and Eurovision commentary Graham Norton enjoys a low-key happy life with his husband
Graham, 62, married partner Jonathan ‘Jono’ McLeod in 2022 in a private ceremony in Cork attended by just 120 guests (seen on one of their very rare public outings together)
Scaled back radio work
Last February Graham confirmed that he was leaving his weekend shows on Virgin Radio after three years.
The Irish presenter had hosted The Graham Norton Radio Show on the station since 2021 alongside Maria McErlane.
Announcing the news of his departure live on his show, Graham said: ‘The show isn’t quite the normal show today because I have a bit of an announcement to make. I’m kind of off! I’m leaving weekends here at Virgin Radio.’
His final weekend show was on Sunday, February 25.
Virgin Radio revealed Strictly Come Dancing star Angela Scanlon would step in for him.
Graham explained live on-air: ‘I’ll still be popping up at the station from time to time but my regular Saturday and Sundays, I’m stepping away.
‘I’ve worked weekends between here and the old place for 13 years and my life has changed a bit, so I thought, ‘Oh, I want my weekends back!’
Last February Graham confirmed that he’s leaving his weekend shows on Virgin Radio after three years
‘So, really, the next two shows, today and tomorrow, are me just saying thank you to you all for listening.’
Graham has repeatedly mentioned cutting back on his work and desire not to keep going until he was too old.
He told SiriusXm in September, 2019: ‘We are on air right now 35 to 36 weeks a year. So if I cut that down, maybe lob ten weeks off it, then I think that would be ideal.
‘What I might try to do is just cut back on my workload.’
And in 2015 he said he would retire before hit the age of 60.
He told the Mirror: ‘I’m not jumping tomorrow but it is in my head. You want to get out when you can still enjoy your life.
‘Neighbours of mine worked and worked and went on this trip of a lifetime round the world. They had to be airlifted three times because they were too old to do this trip. They got stuck on every hike they did.
‘So I don’t want to be them. You want to get out of work when you have still got time to enjoy your life.’
Amid his ‘huge change’, Graham recently took a break from hosting duties on The Graham Norton Show
He still works on his hugely-popular chat show The Graham Norton show.
Amid his ‘huge change’, Graham recently took a break from hosting duties on The Graham Norton Show.
The legendary host travelled Down Under in February and March to present An Evening With Graham Norton, which saw the Irish presenter discuss hilarious stories and shed light on some career highlights, before taking questions from the audience.
BBC’s The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman took over while Graham stepped away from presenting.
Time in his native Ireland
Graham grew up in Bandon and regularly heads back to west Cork where he often recorded his Virgin Radio UK show.
And there was no better place for him to return to for his 2022 wedding than Ireland.
Just last year Graham took a trip down memory lane as he opened up about the crazy ‘rumour-mill’ that followed his epic marriage.
He married BAFTA-winning filmmaker Jonathan in Bandon, west Cork, where the presenter was raised.
And rumours were very quick to escalate as A-listers were apparently spotted by locals in the rural area.
Graham and Jono tied the knot in Bantry House having opted for an Irish wedding to accommodate the former’s mother Rhoda Walker.
‘I don’t talk much about my personal life but the big headline is now I am a married man,’ the hosting icon began on his first night of his new book tour.
Graham grew up in Bandon and regularly heads back to west Cork where he often recorded his Virgin Radio UK show
Graham and Jono tied the knot in Bantry House having opted for an Irish wedding to accommodate the former’s mother Rhoda Walker
He often shares snaps of the beautiful Irish countryside to his Instagram account
He is a regular visitor back to where he grew up
‘I’m surprised. I did not see that happening in my life. I am glad I waited. It is quite nice to get married at my stage in life,’ he added.
‘There are perks, like the vows. At my age ’til death do us part’ is more achievable. I have got things in my fridge that will outlast me.’
Fondly recalling the wedding, he continued: ‘We got married but every f**ker in Bandon knew.
‘You can imagine the rumour mill. I talk to celebrities for a living but I know practically none. People in Bantry said they saw Lady Gaga at Cork Airport, Elton John was seen in the local pub.
‘Imagine being the man and somebody mistook you for Elton John. That is a cruel day,’ Graham finished.
Close and private relationship
In 2023 Graham broke his silence on his marriage to Jonathan, revealing that he wed the filmmaker in July 2022.
The news took his fans by surprise due to the private nature of their relationship.
But in the interview he lifted the lid on details from their wedding and what it was like to marry later in life.
The lavish do was held with 120 guests in attendance with a rumoured performance from music icon Lulu while drag queen Panti Bliss DJed.
Graham later told The Guardian about the day as he joked that ’till death do us part’ was ‘more achievable’ at the age of 60.
He said: ‘I had a joke in my speech: the vows are much more manageable. ‘Till death do us part’ seems more achievable at our age.
‘If you get married at 23, that’s a big ask. We only have to put up with each other for a couple of decades. And then I’ll be out of here.’
In 2023 Graham broke his silence on his marriage to Jonathan, revealing that he wed the filmmaker in July 2022
Jonathan is an esteemed Scottish filmmaker and the couple tied the knot after having met six years previously.
Having drawn together a slew of stars for their glamorous Irish wedding, the couple have remained blissfully happy ever since.
At the time, Graham revealed: ‘I got married this year and we had our wedding party near to where my mother lives in Ireland just so she could come.
‘She wouldn’t have been well enough to come to London so West Cork it was. And it made me very happy.’
Speaking about their marriage, Graham went on: ‘It’s good so far, it would be awful if it wasn’t at this stage, just a few months in, I’d like to think that even I could manage a few months.
‘I’m from that generation of gays who assumed it was never going to be on the cards. So, one, it’s extraordinary that it can happen, I mean, I never gave up hope of finding the one. If it was a surprise, it was a pleasant surprise.’
Slimming down property portfolio
Graham’s fans shared their concerns after it was revealed he had put two of his homes up for sale in just one week.
The huge move left some concerned about the reasoning behind the decision to sell both properties, with fans sharing their fears online.
The presenter was previously one of the BBC’s highest paid stars, but in recent years has seen his earnings reduce.
The star, who tied the knot with Jonathan in 2022, had also shared his hopes of ‘a big change’ when he first put his London home on the market.
Underneath a post about the sale of the London property, fans mused: ‘And I read yesterday that his New York City apartment is up for sale. Hmm…’; ‘So is his New York home [pondering emoji]’;
Graham’s fans shared their concerns after it was revealed he has put two of his homes up for sale in just one week
The huge move has left some concerned about the reasoning behind the decision to sell both properties, with fans sharing their fears online
‘Just read he is selling his NYC place too’; ‘Are we about to see the downfall of Graham Norton or something? Selling two homes at once?’
‘Is he well? I’m actually concerned. These are big life decisions for a man his age. Perhaps he’s getting ready to retire? Gorgeous home.’
Graham, previously among the BBC’s highest earners, is no longer one of the top-paid presenters on the publicly funded broadcaster.
He left BBC R2 in 2020 and his BBC One show is produced by an independent company, meaning his earnings are not reflected in the annual list of highest earners.
However, Graham’s recent comments about the reason behind the potential sale of his home in the English capital may put their worries to rest.
Revealing the reason for the sale, the TV presenter told The Sunday Times that after pondering over it for a couple of years he is ready for a ‘big change’.
The Irish comedian said he is ‘finally feeling brave enough’ to sell his beloved Georgian house which sits on the banks of the River Thames.
The four-storey house features two reception rooms, views of the river as well as a garden overlooking the Thames.
His upscale abode also has double-height ceilings, five bathrooms and an internal patio courtyard garden.
Speaking to the publication about the move, he said: ‘We’ve been thinking about it for a couple of years and I finally feel brave enough to make a huge change to my life.
‘My favourite times have definitely been enjoying a drink sitting by the river on a summer’s evening.
‘My least favourite memory in the house was that time one of the dogs got stuck in a neighbour’s shrub.’
During the interview Graham did not mention that he is also selling his Manhattan home, which he bought from supermodel Claudia Schiffer in the noughties.
Speaking on his decision to purchase the charming property, he told The New York Times: ‘I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and finally caved in and flew over to see it.’
Graham viewed several properties in the area but admitted that none of them captured his heart in the way Sniffen Court did. He added: ‘Once you step into Sniffen Court there is no sense that you are in the heart of Manhattan!’
The second home has been used as a base for the TV host’s US visits over the years, apart from a brief period in 2004 where he lived in it full time while hosting the NY Graham Norton talk show.
The house was only recently completely renovated as Graham believed he may one day retire to the city. However his plans changed when he married Scottish film maker Jono McLeod in 2022.
It’s not the first time Graham has put a plush home of his up for sale as he previously listed a six-bedroom seaside pad in 2017 for £2.3million.
The stunning mansion in Bexhill, had a private beach and master bedroom opening on to a balcony overlooking the English Channel.
According to property records, Graham bought the property for £1.3million in November 2009.
Graham and his husband Jonathan are often seen walking through Hampstead with their black cockapoo named Douglas.
