Graham Norton’s Boss Exposes the Surprising Rule That Decides Where Guests Sit

Fans of The Graham Norton Show finally got some answers about one of the long-standing mysteries of the program: how the famous red sofa is arranged. For years, viewers have watched celebrities from all over the world take a seat next to Graham Norton on Friday nights, but nobody really knew how those positions were decided. Now, a producer has spilled the secret.

Graham Stuart, a producer on the show, spoke with the podcast The Rest is Entertainment and explained that the seating order is more calculated than it looks.

The most important spot, right next to Norton, is reserved for the show’s headline guest. “My answer can be summed up thus: welcome to showbusiness, where all stars are equal but some are more equal than others,” Stuart said. “Media hierarchy is primarily driven by publicists and seat one, which is the seat next to Graham, is the primary aim of all of them for their clients.”

He also explained that the rest of the sofa isn’t about fame. Instead, the producers focus on guest chemistry. Stuart said the seat furthest from Norton is strategically chosen for someone who can keep the conversation lively and fun.

Co-host Richard Osman added, “This position is for someone who is fun in conversation and who wants to hear from other people and who can throw in their own things which are funny and fun, but also can be sat a fair amount of distance from [Norton].”

The most recent episode, which aired on January 23, demonstrated these rules perfectly. The sofa featured Ant and Dec, Claire Foy, Joe Keery, and musical guest Tinie Tempah.

Ant and Dec were promoting their new podcast, Hanging Out with Ant & Dec, and shared a hilarious story about meeting King Charles while wandering Dumfries House in a robe. “I tried on the robe that was in my room and ran out into the corridor to find Dec and there was the Prince. He said hello and started talking to me about pruning roses,” Ant recalled.

According to Stuart, the publicists play a huge role in negotiating which celebrity lands the coveted “Seat One,” while the producers handle the rest to make sure the flow of conversation stays lively and entertaining.

Next week, the show promises another star-studded lineup with Halle Berry, Chris Hemsworth, and Rachel McAdams. With so many big names, the battle for the seat next to Norton is sure to heat up again.

Do you think it’s fair that the “Seat One” spot is decided by publicists, or would it be more fun to let the seating be random and see what happens? Share your thoughts in the comments.