Graham Norton: I no longer watch X Factor which has ‘lost its credibility’
Television star Graham Norton has said he thinks X Factor has “lost its credibility”, but that he is still a fan of Nick Grimshaw.
Norton spoke in an interview with Radio Times, to say that he no longer watches the ITV show for several years.
He said: “It just seems so long now – it’s endless,” he said.
“Also, the people aren’t very good, so to all the judges’ comments of ‘I’d buy your album tomorrow’ you think, ‘You’re never having an album’. You wouldn’t throw 50p at them if they were busking in the tube. I think it’s lost its credibility.”
He is a fan of new judge Nick Grimshaw, praising the Radio One host, and saying he listens to his show, despite not being in the target age range.
“Certainly, I’m not supposed to be listening. He’s supposed to have attracted the kids, but he can’t shake this 52-year-old listener,” he said.
“I like the music he plays and besides, where would I go? I don’t want Radio 4’s Today, and I don’t want Chris Evans, so Nick it is. What faint praise that is!”
The star also said he would like to have Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who recently allowed their child John to self-identify, as guests on his show, as well as former US President Bill Clinton.
Of Clinton, he said: “He’s funny, he’s got stories, he’s charismatic, and also now he’s in that unique position of having been president and probably going to be the first man, or Fmotus (First Man of the United States).”
Norton went on to say we shouldn’t refer to TV pleasures as “guilty”, saying: “Unless you’re watching snuff porn, then maybe feel guilty, but really, if it’s pleasurable, why feel guilt? If there’s a fabulous documentary on BBC4 about the invention of the clay pipe, I’m always going to choose something bubble-gummy and stupid on the other side. And now that there’s iPlayer, you need never feel guilty.”
