Graham Norton Admits Interviewing Madonna Is Always ‘Scary’

Graham Norton has spoken candidly about his experiences of interviewing Madonna.

Over the years, Graham has crossed paths with the Queen of Pop multiple times, most recently for a pre-recorded BBC special to promote her upcoming Confessions II album, which aired last week.

In the lead-up to the special, the Bafta winner made an appearance on Gary Davies’ Radio 2 show, where the host asked if it was “scary” to interview the Like A Prayer singer.

“Yes,” Graham responded bluntly, before clarifying that it hasn’t got any less scary with each meeting.

“She’s one of those people, she does not suffer fools, and so she’s quite intimidating,” the talk show host continued. “And you know, if she [tells you], ‘I’m not enjoying this line of questioning’ or ‘I don’t want to talk to you anymore’… it’s over.”

He added: “She won’t play the game, I don’t think. I don’t know [from experience] – I’ve never pushed it! I’ve never got to that point. Thank god!”

Graham has been a vocal Madonna fan throughout his time in the public eye, but also admitted back in 2024 that the Grammy winner “doesn’t make it easy” in an interview setting.

Madonna has been a guest on Graham’s show twice before, first in 2012 while promoting her film and W.E., and later in 2019, ahead of the release of her Madame X album.

He was also a surprise guest when Madonna’s Rebel Heart tour came to London’s O2 Arena in 2015, where she brought the Drag Race UK judge on stage with her for an impromptu dance.

“I went to one of her concerts and somebody came and tapped me on the shoulder beforehand [and told me], ‘there’s a part in the show where Madonna brings someone up on stage to dance. Would you do it?’,” Graham recalled to Radio 2.

“And, of course, everything in me was saying ‘no, no, do not do this, it’ll be so humiliating’. But my 21-year-old self would have punched me in the face if I didn’t say yes. So I had to say yes. And then I had to commit. So, it was some epic dad dancing.”

While promoting the Madonna & Graham special, he noted: “As a lifelong fan it is always a thrill to interview Madonna, but to meet her on the dance floor where she first performed in London over 30 years ago felt incredibly special.

“She remains a legendary pop icon who is still doing what she does best – getting people up to dance!”

Madonna & Graham is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer. Madonna’s 15th album Confessions II is released on Friday 3 July.