Graham Norton Viewers Call Ellen DeGeneres Interview Awkward After Host Questions Why She Appeared With Nothing to Promote

Ellen DeGeneres’ appearance on The Graham Norton Show sparked an unexpected reaction from viewers after the British presenter questioned why she had joined the celebrity-filled programme without a new project to promote.

The former American talk show host, who now lives in England with her wife Portia de Rossi, admitted she currently had no work lined up but still missed being on television.

Her candid comments prompted some playful exchanges with Norton, although viewers at home were divided over the atmosphere in the studio.

Several described the interview as awkward, while others questioned her interactions with fellow guests Quentin Tarantino, Colin Farrell and Gemma Chan.

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Celebrity guests traditionally appear on Norton’s BBC chat show to discuss upcoming films, television programmes or other projects.

However, DeGeneres acknowledged that she had nothing to promote.

That admission prompted Norton to ask the former daytime television star why she was there.

DeGeneres responded by joking about how easy it appeared to secure television appearances in Britain.

“It does seem easy to get on television here,” she said.

She imagined calling Norton and asking whether she could simply sit on his sofa without promoting anything.

The 68-year-old also revealed that she had been considering opportunities to return to British television.

“I miss laughing every single day with the writers, I miss the guests, I miss kissing Colin, I miss a lot of it,” she joked, referring to fellow guest Colin Farrell.

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Despite the light-hearted conversation, some viewers found DeGeneres’ appearance uncomfortable.

One questioned why she had been invited onto the programme, while another wrote: “Why does it look so awkward that Eleen DeGeneres is on the Graham Norton Show?”

A third jokingly wondered how much she had paid to secure the appearance.

Other viewers focused on her body language, particularly when she appeared not to join the other guests in applauding.

One social media user criticised her for sitting quietly in the corner rather than participating.

These reactions reflected individual viewers’ interpretations of the broadcast rather than any confirmed disagreement between DeGeneres and her fellow guests.

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DeGeneres hosted The Ellen DeGeneres Show for 19 years before it ended in 2022, following controversy surrounding allegations of a toxic workplace environment.

Since stepping away from daytime television, she has largely remained outside the spotlight.

During her conversation with Norton, she joked about the variety of programmes available on British television, including shows about sewing, pottery and people watching television.

She even floated the possibility of a programme involving lawn mowing, revealing that she enjoys mowing regularly.

DeGeneres also reflected on her groundbreaking 1990s sitcom Ellen and the support she received in London after publicly coming out.

She described that recognition as particularly meaningful during a difficult period in her American career.

Ellen DeGeneres Embraces Her New Life in the Cotswolds

DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi relocated to Britain in 2024, settling in the Cotswolds after initially planning to spend only part of the year there.

The comedian previously explained that Donald Trump’s re-election influenced their decision to remain in the UK permanently.

The couple have since embraced countryside living, with DeGeneres praising Britain’s villages, architecture and slower pace of life.

Their move has also involved finding suitable accommodation for Portia’s horses, with planning permission granted for new stables at their Oxfordshire property.

Although DeGeneres appears happy with her new surroundings, her conversation with Norton suggests she has not entirely abandoned the idea of returning to entertainment.

For now, her unexpected television appearance has generated plenty of discussion, with viewers seemingly as interested in her behaviour on the sofa as in what she might do next.