Television icon Graham Norton is trading his familiar red chair for a trip in the TARDIS, bringing his Eurovision expertise to the world of DOCTOR WHO. The beloved host and comedian will appear in the sixth episode of the new season, centered around the “Interstellar Song Contest” – a cosmic version of the Eurovision competition Norton has famously provided commentary for since 2009.

This special appearance isn’t just a brief cameo – showrunner Russell T Davies has confirmed Norton will have “a whole plot twist all to himself” in what Davies describes as “the wildest episode of all.” The Eurovision connection makes Norton a perfect fit for this cosmic singing competition where planets from across the universe compete for the grand prize.

Norton joins Ncuti Gatwa’s 15th Doctor and new companion Belinda Chandra (played by Varada Sethu) as they find themselves at the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest. The star-studded episode also features guests including Freddie Fox from SLOW HORSES, broadcaster Rylan, FLEABAG‘s Kadiff Kirwan, CORONATION STREET‘s Charlie Condou, and Miriam Teak-Lee from & JULIET.

This guest role represents another interesting career move for Norton, who has evolved from stand-up comedian to Britain’s premier talk show host on THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW. While maintaining his position as the “King of Eurovision,” Norton has expanded his creative portfolio in recent years, publishing several novels and becoming a fixture of British entertainment culture.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sethu described how her character Belinda brings a fresh dynamic to the series: “She holds him accountable. She calls him out when his etiquette slips.” Unlike many companions who put the Doctor on a pedestal, “Belinda doesn’t do that. She sees him as a friend, a partner in getting through this,” creating what Sethu calls “a much more balanced and healthy relationship.”

The new season of DOCTOR WHO premieres April 12, with Norton’s “Interstellar Song Contest” episode airing May 17 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and globally on Disney+. The series is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television, marking a new era for the iconic science fiction franchise with its combination of familiar British talent and global distribution.

THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW has confirmed a return date for later this month alongside the star-studded line-up. The BBC One chat show will be back on screens on Friday, September 27, with the red sofa set to include Lady Gaga, who will be speaking about her role as Harley Quinn in new JOKER sequel FOLIE Á DEUX. Also confirmed are Colin Farrell, who will be speaking about DC series THE PENGUIN, and Demi Moore as she promotes new movie THE SUBSTANCE.

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