Graham Norton bags publishing deal to pen second novel as first murder mystery book Holding is turned into TV drama
The chat show host can add serious author to his CV after confirming his second novel will hit bookshelves next year
GRAHAM NORTON will no longer just be known for top chat and writing punchlines.
The comedy and TV king is now a serious author — and I can reveal he has secured a deal to write his second novel.
Graham released his debut offering, Holding, in October and immediately found success when it was snapped up to be made into a television series.
Now publishers Hodder & Stoughton want Graham to pen his next book right away.
In an exclusive interview, he confirmed: “I’m doing another one. I’ve started this year and it will come out next year.”
Holding, a murder-mystery set in a fictional Irish village, won critical acclaim after its release and is being developed for TV by former EastEnders boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins.
Graham has described the experience of writing the tale as “tough”.
Speaking at Tuesday’s Costa Book Awards, where he was a judge, Graham said: “It’s odd because I don’t know any of these people.
"Having been through the process, the fact that these books are being recognised is just terrific.
“But it’s such a kind of lonely, intense experience.
“So to come blinking into the light and be given free glasses of champagne is terrific for all these writers.”
Graham says he is over the moon to have his second book on the horizon.
He only bagged his first deal for Holding thanks to an awkward trade- off with publishers, which saw him write his second autobiography, The Life And Loves Of A He Devil.
He said last year: “I wanted to write a novel — they wanted a memoir. So we did a two-book deal and they got the memoir first, then I gave them the novel they didn’t want.
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"I have to read a lot of celebrity novels for work and so long as it’s better than most of them, I’ll be OK.”
The news caps an incredible month for Graham, who followed up his Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards last week by signing a new, three-year deal with the BBC.
He said of his contract: “I think it takes the pressure off because you can relax and say, ‘Oh great, we’re in it for the long haul’.
“The BBC have committed, we’re committed, so I think it’s a nice feeling.”
Now all he needs to arrange with the Beeb is a good holiday to get busy writing his latest book.
READ ON FOR THE REST OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE COLUMN
Karlie keeps friends Kloss
KARLIE KLOSS threw a strop before appearing on Aussie telly show Sunrise today, cancelling her interview because she didn’t want to mention her pop star pal TAYLOR SWIFT.
Thankfully the model sorted herself out before raiding a wardrobe and strutting down a catwalk at the David Jones Collection launch in Sydney.
Later Karlie said: “I value my friendships. I’m happy to be here to work with David Jones and that’s what I want to focus on.”
Not sure anyone cares about that – sorry, Karlie.
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
IT’S a sad day for CHERYL
Her X Factor favourites REGGIE ’N’ BOLLIE have been dropped by SIMON COWELL’s record label Syco after just a year. The pair finished second on the talent show in 2015 with the former GIRLS ALOUD star as their mentor.
She tipped them for big things, and after the final Simon tweeted: “They’ll sell records next year.”
But debut single New Girl limped to No26 and the second, Link Up, flopped completely.
Last night a Syco spokesman said: “Reggie ’N’ Bollie are no longer working with us. We wish them the best of luck.”
Lovely guys and at least they’ve had a lot of fun.
Raye's your game
CHARLI XCX can sure work off a hangover – just ask RAYE. Champagne-loving Charlie has been branded a taskmaster by the young rising star.
Raye said of Charli, who directed her video for song I, U, Us: “I’ve never seen a treatment like the one I got from Charli for the video.
"She sent me 40 pages, with huge paragraphs detailing each scene. I went to her beautiful house in the country and we were practising non-stop, dancing by the mirror.”
Raye has five tunes in the Top 50 this week including JAX JONES collab You Don’t Know Me at No3. Her hard work pays.
END OF AN EYRE-RA
YET another pop couple has bitten the dust.
I’m told RIXTON star LEWI MORGAN and singer girlfriend ELLA EYRE have called it a day after nearly two years.
A source revealed: “Ella and Lewi are no longer together. Things just didn’t work out. It’s tough when touring and writing are involved. They’ve agreed to remain friends.”
Their split will give Rixton frontman JAKE ROCHE plenty more content for the new album after he released a song last year about his split from LITTLE MIX fiancée JESY NELSON.
Every cloud . . .
Corden in sting-along
NEXT time you order cordon bleu at a restaurant, you might find JAMES CORDEN singing a ballad.
In a new skit on his US Late Late Show, he grabbed a waiter’s uniform and guitar to serenade two diners with WESTLIFE hit More Than Words.
Then STING showed up for dessert and blasted songs by THE POLICE at the same table.
I’d definitely tip ten per cent for that.
BIZMETER: FILM
BOX OFFICE
ANIMATED comedy Sing has stormed the British box office by taking £10.5million in its opening weekend. The film about a koala who puts on a singing competition to save his theatre knocks T2 Trainspotting down to No2, with £5.15million.
CASTING
LEONARDO DICAPRIO will play the “Italian Sherlock Holmes” in a movie adaptation of Stephan Talty’s book The Black Hand. The Oscar- winner will also produce the Mafia film, which is set in New York in 1903.
COMING SOON
EXPECT a host of new trailers on Monday as early snippets of JAKE GYLLENHAAL’s sci-fi thriller Life, SCARLETT JOHANSSON’s Ghost In The Shell and The Fate Of The Furious are expected to air during the Super Bowl ad break.
AWARDS
AS the Oscars approach, MORGAN FREEMAN has told how his 2004 Best Supporting Actor award for Million Dollar Baby was “anticlimactic”. He said: “I was up for Best Actor three times. I’ve stopped waiting for the Best Actor Oscar.”
New twist in the strife of Ryan
RYAN THOMAS could soon be following in brother SCOTT’s sandy footsteps by appearing on the next Love Island.
I can reveal the ex-Corrie star is single again after his relationship with Topshop worker Brea Taddei fizzled out.
I first told how the couple, both from Manchester, started dating in September – just weeks after his split from Lana Martin.
A source said: “Ryan moved on quite quickly with Brea – they’re both really fond of each other but it wasn’t to be.
“Ryan moved to London after quitting Coronation Street and the long distance killed things.”
Meanwhile, life couldn’t be going better for Ryan’s brothers. Scott is still with Kady McDermott after hitting it off on ITV2’s Love Island last summer.
And Emmerdale actor ADAM, who came third on last year’s I’m A Celeb, revealed he plans to wed his fiancée Caroline Daly later this year.
Ryan won’t want to play third wheel at that.
PETS' GENIUS CONFIRMED
THE most successful duo in UK music history are about to add another gong to their collection.
I can exclusively reveal the PET SHOP BOYS will receive this year’s NME Godlike Genius Award.
NEIL TENNANT and CHRIS LOWE follow in the footsteps of previous winners COLDPLAY, U2 and NOEL GALLAGHER.
The duo will bring the awards show, at London’s O2 Brixton Academy on February 15, to a close with a performance of their greatest hits. The prize kicks off a huge 2017 for Neil and Chris, as they embark on their Super Tour of the UK.
BEYONCE tops the nominations list with five. I’d love to see her swing by Brixton for the evening.