Norton shrugs off Parky’s criticism of comic hosts

TV star Graham Norton has hit back at Michael Parkinson’s criticism of the current generation of chat show hosts, and bemoaned the rise of “goody goody” dramas.

Veteran broadcaster Parkinson, 77, who retired from his chat show in 2007, has called it “sad” that traditional shows have been replaced by programmes that are fronted by comics.

But Norton, 49, who replaced Jonathan Ross in the Friday night slot on BBC1, told the Radio Times: “What we’re in the business of doing isn’t really interviewing people.