Why Graham Norton Changed His Answer When Asked About The Worst Guest On His Show

Graham Norton didn’t just change his answer, he basically upgraded it from “least favorite guest” to “worst guest ever” when the question came up at an event. And once he said the name, Harvey Weinstein, the whole story got darker fast.

Norton explained that Weinstein’s behavior wasn’t only about what happened later, it was already showing up in real time. He recalled getting emails from Weinstein asking to appear on the show, even though the schedule was already locked. Then the messages kept coming, the “What if I…” prompts, the second guesses, the tunnel-vision attitude, and Norton had to tell his booker to handle it.

Here’s the full story, and it’s chilling because Norton realized the emails were basically revealing the kind of person he was dealing with.

Here is Graham Norton

BBC

Norton talks about “laughing at those emails” at the time, but the Harvey Weinstein request train was already running through the fully booked schedule.

The presenter was reportedly asked at the event about the worst guest he’d ever had on the show, prompting him to mention a certain disgraced movie mogul. His choice wasn't exclusively predicated on the fact that he’s now in prison after being sentenced to 23 years for rape and sexual assault, but that probably played a part.

"I often talk around who my least favorite guest was, but now, someone reminded me, I have a really good answer to this now. It's Harvey Weinstein. He's in jail, so he gets the prize for the worst guest ever."

By fostering a supportive atmosphere, hosts can help guests feel more at ease, which can lead to richer conversations and memorable moments.

Graham Norton says that Harvey Weinstein is the worst guest he's ever had on the show

Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

That’s when you can feel the shift, Norton goes from explaining logistics to describing why Weinstein’s persistence was predator behavior.

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Even with David Tennant, Olivia Colman, and Jessie J in the mix during the 2015 appearance, Norton still frames Weinstein as the one who ruined the whole vibe.

Norton shared how Weinstein was sending emails expressing a desire to appear on the talk program, even though it was already completely scheduled. "He emailed back: 'What if I blah de blah de blah?' [I replied] 'No, the show is fully booked, blah de blah,'" Norton continued.

"And he emailed back again, 'But I think...', and I just had to turn to my booker and say, 'Can you please deal with this?' At the time, I thought that sort of attitude, that kind of 'Oh no, I'm going on [the show],' is what makes you a very good producer.

Norton added that now they know what they know, that is what makes him a predator. "It was that kind of weird tunnel-vision thing."

Norton went on to say:

"And it was sort of chilling in retrospect because I was just laughing at those emails. But you realize, 'Oh my God, that is an insight into how that man is.'"

In 2015, David Tennant, Olivia Colman, and Jessie J joined Weinstein for an appearance on The Graham Norton Show. De Niro was knocked off the pedestal of "worst guest" by the host's interaction with Weinstein, which makes sense given that all the actor had done was recite an uninteresting story.

And once Robert De Niro was knocked off the “worst guest” pedestal after his boring story, it made Norton’s Weinstein answer hit even harder.</p>

Furthermore, developing a toolkit of responses allows hosts to navigate unexpected situations more effectively, ensuring the show remains entertaining and dynamic.

The interaction between Graham Norton and his guests often defines the charm of The Graham Norton Show.

Now Norton knows the emails weren’t just annoying, they were a warning sign.

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