BBC Graham Norton has 'never experienced anything like it' as his life changed forever in Liverpool

Graham Norton is excited to come back to the place where it all started. The 61-year-old has become a household name with his legendary self-titled chat show regularly bringing together some of the most famous faces in the world.

Graham has ventured out of his usual remit with his latest project as he has written his fifth novel, Frankie. The presenter is taking to the road to mark the book's publication and his nationwide tour is stopping off at the Liverpool Empire on September 13.

An Evening With Graham Norton will see the presenter tell stories and dish out behind-the-scenes secrets from his incredible life in showbiz. Graham is particularly excited to return to Liverpool as the city was the launching pad where his career got started and changed the course of his life forever.

He told the ECHO in an exclusive interview: "It is where I had my first professional job after drama school in 1989. I was Tommy in Shadow of a Gunman by Sean O'Casey at the Playhouse and I remember staying in some mouse-infested digs up on Huskisson Street. It was such an exciting time. I felt like it was the start of my acting career, blissfully unaware that it was also, more or less, the end of it as well."

Graham pivoted to stand-up comedy and always loved performing in front of a Scouse audience. He said: "It has been a while but my memory of a Scouse audience is that they actively want to have a good time. Some crowds are very much arms folded, thinking to themselves, 'this better not be rubbish', whereas Liverpool audiences seem to show up expecting to have a good time."

The entertainer made the move to broadcasting with BBC Radio 4 show, Loose Ends, and hasn't looked back since. He was first given his own chat show by Channel 4 in 1998 with So Graham Norton before he made the move to the BBC when his self-titled chat show premiered in 2007.

Graham has gone on to become one of the nation's most beloved presenters and replaced the late, great Terry Wogan as the voice of Eurovision coverage in the UK in 2008. The international song contest was hosted in Liverpool last year and Graham said he was blown away by how the city fully embraced Eurovision.

He said: "What an amazing week it was when even the weather got its act together for the contest. I've never experienced an atmosphere like it. The whole city seemed to be in the grip of Eurovision fever and there was music everywhere. I might be biased, but honestly, it was the best host city I've been to in the fifteen years I've been involved in the contest."

The Eurovision experience only emboldened what Graham always thought about Liverpool as he has many fond memories from whenever he has visited the region. The Irish presenter told the ECHO about his favourite spot he always makes sure to visit whenever he's in Merseyside.

He said: "No matter how brief a stay, the one thing I love to do is take the walk along Hope Street between the two cathedrals. They are both so iconic in their very different ways, plus there are the views and, time permitting, a quick pit stop in The Philharmonic."

Graham remains busier than ever as he managed to write his new book while hosting the 31st season of his beloved talk show. A hectic schedule is just how the host likes it as he said writing is his way of taking a break from his life in showbiz.

He said: "In a way, the writing is my way of relaxing. Working on a novel is the only thing in my life where it is just me - no producers, no guests, no audience, just the characters on the page and the story that unfolds. I couldn't do fiction writing full time because I really love my real job but as a contrast to it, books are a wonderful respite. Wine is also a pretty effective off switch I find."

The Friday night chat show remains as popular as ever and Graham said he is honoured to be able to chat to the world's biggest celebrities. He said: "I've been so lucky to have spoken to so many brilliant people over the years.

"Really famous people like Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts bring amazing energy to the show and then we have hilarious guests like Miriam Margolyes or Joan Rivers, but my favourite nights are the ones when the couch takes off and I can just sit back and enjoy it. There was a night with Matt Damon, Bill Murray and Hugh Bonneville that was like that, or when we had the female cast of Ocean's Eight on the show - Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter were hilarious together."

Graham will lift the lid on his favourite interviews during the book tour and said enabling the chemistry between the stars on the sofa is the key to the show's success. He said: "In preparation for this show at the Empire I've been looking back at old clips. All I can report is that I'm pretty sure I've improved a bit over the years! When I watch early shows all I keep thinking is 'Shut up - let the guests speak!'"

Graham's career has now entered its fourth decade and the host is showing no signs of slowing down as he looks forward to the future and what comes next in the upcoming chapter of his glittering life in showbiz. He said: "The late Dale Winton had a mantra, "Don't quit the hit" and I've stuck to that.

"I'm very aware that all the other great things that have come my way, the books, my wine, Eurovision, this tour, are all thanks to the chat show. Luckily I still really enjoy hosting it and audiences seem to still like watching, so I guess until one or both of those things change, I'll keep going!"

An Evening With Graham Norton arrives at the Liverpool Empire on September 13. For more information and tickets, visit here. Frankie by Graham Norton (Coronet, £20) is published in hardback on September 12