Home Stretch

Graham Norton is one of the UK's most treasured comedians and presenters. Born in Clondalkin, a suburb of Dublin, Norton's first big TV appearance was as Father Noel Furlong on Channel 4's Father Ted in the early 1990s. He then secured a prime time slot on Channel 4 with his chat shows So Graham Norton and V Graham Norton.

Known for his quick wit Graham began hosting a variety of talent shows on BBC One from Strictly Dance Fever and Andrew Lloyd Webber's How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? to The Eurovision Song Contest and BAFTAs. Graham was soon approached by the BBC to front his own self-titled chat show The Graham Norton Show in 2007.

Graham Norton has won 9 BAFTAs for Best Entertainment Performance, and Best Entertainment Programme. He presents The Graham Norton Show on BBC1, a show on BBC Radio 2 every Saturday, and is a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK. Norton won the Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards in 2017.

"Excellent. . . . With surprising twists and touching moments, Norton explores the immense sense of loss that comes with being a survivor, and how nothing is ever truly forgotten for the families of those who died. . . . Norton delicately covers themes of abandonment, death, and loss with sophistication and thoughtful empathy. . . . This gripping and compassionate outing is Norton’s best yet."  — Publishers Weekly
"A subtle portrait of small-town Ireland; an unblinking study of shame & homophobia; a map of cultural shifts between 1980s & now; a kind, wise, perceptive novel by an author rich in these qualities." — David Mitchell
"Intelligent and tenderly observed novel." — The Times (UK)
"He is a deftly skilled writer who has honed a prose style that suits his stories perfectly . . . traversing tragedy and humour with equal aplomb. . . . Home Stretch is a wonderful display." — Irish Times
"Norton’s third novel is a thoughtful examination of sexual identity, shame, and the impact of collective grief." — Observer
"Norton has all of her [Maeve Binchy’s] ability to write about sadness and cruelty, while investing his story with immense warmth. What right has such a successful entertainer to pen a novel as good as this?" — Mirror
"Norton’s best yet!" — Woman's Weekly
 "Norton has a knack for capturing the sturdy, melancholic small-town Irish life where secrets are only revealed when they have to be, and even then in a controlled fashion. His characters come to vivid life, sweeping readers up in this quiet, affecting novel."  — Booklist
"Graham Norton's new novel has me in floods... His gift for characterisation is positively Binchy-esque! Such nuance and warmth! It's GORGEOUS" — Marian Keyes
"I loved HOME STRETCH ... one of those books that stays with you so long after you've finished it" — Nigella Lawson
"Graham Norton's examination of small-town Irish lives continues in his deeply moving third novel. He is a magnificent writer." — John Boyne