Graham Norton – författare

In this “compelling, bighearted, emotionally precise page-turner” (Sunday Times), the New York Times bestselling writer and acclaimed television host explores the aftermath of a tragedy on a small-town to illuminate the shame and longing that can flow through generations—and how the secrets of the heart cannot stay be buried forever.It is 1987 and a small Irish community is preparing for a wedding. The day before the ceremony, a group of young friends, including the bride and groom, are involved in an accident. Three survive. Three are killed.

The lives of the families are shattered and the rifts between them ripple throughout the small town. Connor survived, but living among the angry and the mourning is almost as hard as carrying the shame of having been the driver. He leaves the only place he knows for another life, taking his secrets with him. Travelling first to Liverpool, then London, he eventually makes a home—of sorts—for himself in New York, where he finds shelter and the possibility of forging a new life.

But the secrets—the unspoken longings and regrets that have come to haunt those left behind—will not be silenced. Before long, Connor will have to confront his past.

A powerful and timely novel of emigration and return, Home Stretch demonstrates Norton’s keen understanding of the power of stigma and secrecy—and their devastating effect on ordinary lives.

“Wonderful. . . . Dark, funny, full of emotional intelligence and gripping from the start . . . beautifully written.”—Daily Mail

The internationally bestselling author and host of The Graham Norton Show returns with a tense and darkly comic novel that casts a caustic light on the relationship between mothers and daughters and truth and self-preservation.

Where do secrets live?

Carol is a divorced teacher living in a small town in Ireland, her only son now grown. A second chance at love brings her unexpected connection and belonging—and sparks a flurry of speculation. What does a woman like her see in a man like that? What happened to his wife who abandoned him and his children all those years ago? Carol and Declan know their relationship is the talk of the town, but the gossip only serves to bring the couple closer.

When Declan becomes ill, their relationship falters. His children are untrusting and cruel, and Carol is forced to leave their beloved home, with its worn oak floors and elegant features, and move back with her parents.

Carol’s mother is determined to get to the bottom of things—she won''t see her daughter suffer this way. It seems there are secrets in Declan''s past, strange rumors that were never confronted, and suddenly the house they shared takes on a more sinister significance that affects them all.

Graham Norton, whose impish charm and quick wit has earned him a place in our hearts, looks back at his life so far. In his own words, SO ME is ''a real romp through a journey from living in a cockroach-infested council flat in Hackney to buying Claudia Schiffer''s townhouse in Manhattan, from my mother dragging me to school to me dragging her to Sharon Stone''s house for New Year''s brunch''.

From a not-so miserable Irish childhood to dropping out of Cork University and joining a commune of hippies in San Francisco, from his disastrous attempts at becoming a serious actor to the rise of his comedy career in London, this is a hilarious, insightful and moving account of a colourful life.

''I defy anyone not to snort, howl and recoil'' The Sunday Times

''Full of wicked asides, tart observations and sharp remarks that could only have originated in Graham Norton''s witty brain.'' Terry Wogan

Looking around the room I saw what life really was. It was made up of my passions. I saw my life reflected back at me. People I liked, people I loved, people I had shared half a century with. All the stories of my life were together in that one room and it made me very happy. Who wouldn''t want a friend like Graham Norton? A little bit naughty, full of frank advice, bursting with gossip about the world''s biggest stars - but most of all with an emphatic love of life and all its joys, big and small. Join him - glass of wine in hand, faithful doggy friend by your side - and delve in as he shares the loves of his life.

**Graham Norton''s new novel Frankie is out now**''A gentle comic crime story'' GUARDIAN''Poised and perceptive'' SUNDAY TIMES''A beautiful piece of writing'' KATHY BURKEThe remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama; and yet its inhabitants are troubled. Sergeant PJ Collins hasn''t always been this overweight; mother of two Brid Riordan hasn''t always been an alcoholic; and elegant Evelyn Ross hasn''t always felt that her life was a total waste. So when human remains are discovered on an old farm, suspected to be that of Tommy Burke - a former love of both Brid and Evelyn - the village''s dark past begins to unravel. As the frustrated PJ struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community''s worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret.Darkly comic, touching and at times profoundly sad. Graham Norton employs his acerbic wit to breathe life into a host of lovable characters, and explore - with searing honesty - the complexities and contradictions that make us human.

**Graham Norton''s latest novel Frankie is out now**''Atmospheric, creepy and impossible to put down'' THE TIMES

''A compelling and moving story, expertly told'' DAILY EXPRESS

''Magnificent ... his writing is evocative and perfect'' MARIAN KEYES

A masterly tale of secrets and ill-fated loves set on the coast of Ireland.

Elizabeth Keane returns to Ireland after her mother''s death, intent only on wrapping up that dismal part of her life. There is nothing here for her; she wonders if there ever was. The house of her childhood is stuffed full of useless things, her mother''s presence already fading. And perhaps, had she not found the small stash of letters, the truth would never have come to light.

40 years earlier, a young woman stumbles from a remote stone house, the night quiet but for the tireless wind that circles her as she hurries further into the darkness away from the cliffs and the sea. She has no sense of where she is going, only that she must keep on.

This compelling novel confirms Graham Norton''s status as a fresh, literary voice, bringing his clear-eyed understanding of human nature and its darkest flaws.

Home Stretch: the moving, wise story of shame, acceptance and finding your way back home

''Top-notch... full of warmth, comedy and dark secrets'' DAILY MIRROR

''Beautifully constructed with a twisty plot'' JO BRAND

''A winning mix of family drama and comedy crime caper'' HEAT

**Graham Norton''s latest novel Frankie is out now**

The dark comedy from the Sunday Times bestselling author Graham Norton

Carol is a divorced teacher living in a small Irish town. A second chance at love with the older Declan brings her unexpected happiness, but their romance sparks speculation: what does a woman like her see in a man like him? And what happened to his wife who left him all those years ago?

The gossip only serves to bring them closer, but when Declan becomes ill, things fall apart. Carol is forced to leave their beloved home and return to her parents. Unwilling to see her daughter suffer, Carol''s mother vows to get to the bottom of things. It seems there are secrets in Declan''s past, and suddenly the house they shared takes on a more sinister significance...

Frankie: the beloved Sunday Times bestseller

''A warm, deeply moving, life-enhancing novel''SARAH WINMAN, AUTHOR OF STILL LIFE

''A masterclass in storytelling that grabs you by the heartstrings from page one'' SUNDAY INDEPENDENTFrankie Howe was never quite sure enough of herself to take centre stage - after all, life had already judged her harshly. Now in her eighties, she finds it easier to forget the life that came before.Then Damian, a young Irish carer, arrives at her London flat to keep an eye on her as she recovers from a fall. A memory is sparked, and the past crackles into life as Damian listens to the story Frankie has kept stored away all these years.From post-war Ireland to 1960s New York - a city full of art, larger-than-life characters and turmoil - Frankie shares a world in which friendship and chance encounters collide. A place where life blazes with an intensity that can''t last but will perhaps live on in other ways and in other people. But as Frankie''s past slowly emerges, her spirit and endurance are revealed as undeniable . . . and unforgettable.''Warm and wise, Frankie is a woman worth getting to know'' BONNIE GARMUS, AUTHOR OF LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY''Frankie is one of the most wonderful characters I''ve come across in a long time'' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

''A triumph, a beautiful book of sunshine and memory'' ANDREW O''HAGAN, AUTHOR OF CALEDONIAN ROAD

''Immersive, stunningly written, and very emotional . . . his best yet''JENNIE GODFREY, AUTHOR OF THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS

Readers adore Frankie''Brilliant . . . It was like hearing the life story of a dear close friend'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

''It''s perfect'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

''So full of joy and sadness and all emotions in between'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

''Closing the book was like saying goodbye to a friend'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

''Be warned, you''ll want to hear Frankie''s story in one go!'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Two joyous archive celebrations of Doctor Who''s 50th anniversary presented by Russell Tovey and Graham Norton.November 2013 marked 50 years since Doctor Who first arrived on BBC television, and Radio 2 marked the occasion with two very special programmes.Who Is The Doctor? Russell Tovey takes an epic journey through five decades of Doctor Who history and charts the fortunes of the series, from its origins in the 1960s and growing popularity in the 1970s, through the onset of stormy waters in the 1980s, to its triumphant rebirth and second golden age in the 21st Century. Among those telling the story are Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat, Barry Letts, Philip Hinchcliffe, Jenna Coleman, Louise Jameson, Matt Smith, David Tennant, Christopher Eccleston, Sylvester McCoy, Nicholas Briggs, Mark Ayres, Ben Foster, Mark Gatiss, Waris Hussein and Terrance Dicks alongside numerous other Doctor Who creators and contributors.Graham Norton In a special edition of his Saturday morning Radio 2 show, broadcast live from the 50th Anniversary Celebration in London, Graham presides over lively and humorous conversation with guests including Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Jenna Coleman, Peter Davison, Carole Ann Ford, Louise Jameson, Katy Manning, Kate O’Mara, Sylvester McCoy, Steven Moffat, William Russell and Matt Smith. Maria McErlane celebrates ten very special Days of the Doctor, and Graham casts an eye over some of the costumes that have featured in the series. Join Russell, Graham and a galaxy of stars for the festivities as they mark half a century of Doctor Who. Programmes produced by Malcolm Prince for BBC Radio 2.Please note that some edits have been made for this commercial release.