Late Late Show: Graham Norton on the one chat show guest that ‘got away’

After a short break, The Late Late Show returned to our TV screens on Friday night with plenty of big names dropping by for a chat.

First up was TV presenter and author Graham Norton chatting about the inspiration for his fifth bestselling novel, Frankie; the ‘one - chat show guest - that got away’ early in his career; and why he decided to get his weekends back by leaving his long running radio show.

Graham candidly confessed that early in his career that Daniel O’Donnell was that one guest who got away.

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"In season two of So Graham Norton (on Channel 4) we asked Daniel O’Donnell, would he come on? And here’s the thing, he said yes! I was delighted . . . so we put it in all the papers," he explained.

"And that was all fine, except that the Friday before he was supposed to come on, either Daniel or someone from Team Daniel actually watched the show and suddenly, Daniel very busy - that grass needs cutting!

"That was fine but it was too late to get it out of the papers so it still looked like he was going to be on the show. Anyway no Daniel and we forgot about it."

Graham joked that the station received many complaints from viewers who had tuned in for Daniel but instead ended up seeing a French lady by the name Madame Pee Pee: "Back then if you didn't enjoy the show, you couldn't just tweet the host. You had to have a special phone number and call the station.

"On the Monday, we would get the list of phone calls that had come into the station. We got the list, and if there was a Venn diagram of Madame Pee Pee fans and Daniel O’Donnell fans, I would say no crossover at all, really.

"My favourite one, was a woman who called in, and all she said was, ‘Dear God, I’m supposed to be taping this for the nuns.'”

In his first sit down Irish television interview, BAFTA award winning actor Paul Mescal chatted to host Patrick Kielty about his giant blockbuster Gladiator II, working with director Ridley Scott, his friendship with Saoirse Ronan and their appearance on The Graham Norton Show and coming home to his family.

U2 bassist and global rock superstar Adam Clayton was also live in studio to talk about Ballroom Blitz, his documentary about the Irish showband scene of the 60s and 70s and how it’s in his blood; the Las Vegas Sphere and their 40-day residency, as well as sharing exciting news of previously unheard U2 tracks.

Comedian, actor and writer Brendan O’Carroll is home from Florida and was chatting to Patrick about his hit series, Mrs. Brown’s Boys, which returns to our screens this Christmas. He also plugged his live show, The Musical for Moore Street, which tours Ireland in the coming weeks.

Irish folk music band from Donegal and led by Mairead Ní Mhaonaigh, Altan, took care of the music on Friday night. Ahead of tour dates around Ireland, Altan performed a set of reels that had the viewers hands clicking and toes tapping.

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