Graham Norton ‘marries partner’ with star-studded, drag-filled wedding bash

Graham Norton attends the EE British Academy Film Awards ceremony

Graham Norton has reportedly married his long-term partner in Ireland.

Norton reportedly welcomed more than 120 guests to Bantry House and Gardens in West Cork, near to where he grew up, to toast him and his partner tying the knot.

According to the Irish Examiner, a blessing ceremony was followed by wedding reception which saw singer Lulu, Irish dancing group Carids and drag queen DJ Panti Bliss dazzle the attendees into the night.

“One local resident told Cork Beo: “We knew Bantry House was closed for a private event, it was pretty common knowledge that it was a party for Graham and that it was to do with his marriage.

“We were hearing all sorts of names, Lady Gaga, Elton John was supposed to be singing, we’ve not seen any of them but there’s been a big buzz around Bantry.

“We could all hear the music from Bantry House on Saturday night – they certainly got the weather for it!”

Graham Norton onstage during the Paramount+ UK launch

Graham Norton has long been tight-lipped when it comes to his private life. (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for Paramount+)

Graham Norton, 59, grew up only a stone’s throw away in Bandon. While he now lives in London, Norton still maintains strong ties to his hometown, owning a holiday home in nearby Ahakista.

It was there the party reportedly continued. Guests are said to have gathered the day after the wedding outside Norton’s waterside home to celebrate the newlyweds, with a number of marquees and a catering tent set up along the grounds.

Often citing fame as a factor in his past breakups, the normally chatty Norton has long kept his love life private. He hasn’t shared who his partner, now husband, is.

He dated Trevor Patterson for two years before breaking up in 2013. He then went out with music marketing consultant Andrew Smith, whom he split from in 2015.

Norton even had an on-again, off-again relationship with RuPaul’s Drag Race star Tina Burner. The pair saw each other in the early noughties – but it didn’t exactly end well.

“The experiment lasted for about six months and it was a disaster,” Norton wrote in his 2014 memoir, The Live and Loves of a He Devil.

Norton’s love life has had its fair share of ups and downs, but he has always kept a level head.

Reflecting on love in 2018, Norton told Katie Couric’s podcast: “You have your own rules as you get older. I would prefer to live alone for the rest of my life rather than live with towels that were folded incorrectly.”

“I’ve failed all my relationship exams, and yes it’s a different life, but I’m still living,” he added.

“You’re far better off finding ways to enjoy the life you’re living than mourning the life you’re not, which is a double whammy of unhappiness.”