Broadcasting icons Graham Norton and Maria McErlane have recently reunited for their new podcast, Wanging On, where they candidly discussed a difficult chapter from their early careers. Despite their close friendship of more than 30 years, their first collaboration on a 1990s late-night game show, Carnal Knowledge, was far from smooth.
Known today for his successful tenure as host of The Graham Norton Show on the BBC, Graham recalls that Carnal Knowledge was a racy quiz show where couples answered intimate relationship questions. The show, while pivotal in launching his career, was a trying experience for both presenters.
Maria McErlane revealed on their podcast, “We met properly when we did a terrible show called Carnal Knowledge which we must try and forget.” Graham added, “That’s when we bonded because it was so horrible.” She described the filming schedule as grueling, sometimes shooting up to five episodes a day, blurring the line between reality and a “terrible nightmare.”
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Graham offered further insight, recalling that the show’s atmosphere was quite unusual: “It was kind of a dirty Mr and Mrs quiz, and to get contestants relaxed they were feeding them bottles of Beck’s in the carpark at 9 in the morning.” Both agreed it didn’t feel like typical show business, underscoring the challenges they faced early on.
Despite the adversity, Graham reflected on their enduring friendship: “Remarkably, we have stayed friends since. I think a lot of people would have fallen out during that horrible experience because it was one of those things where you either clung to each other or you hated the other person.” Maria jokingly remarked on Graham’s subsequent fame, adding she was “not bitter about” his success.
Beyond Carnal Knowledge, Maria also supported Graham as his radio co-host for 13 years, a partnership that inspired the format of their current podcast. Their show blends humor and candid advice, tackling listeners’ personal dilemmas.
In their latest episode, they counseled a woman struggling with a colleague secretly dating a “toxic” man, and discussed a man’s experience of getting “funny looks” for using a Waitrose bag at other supermarkets. Graham even quipped with his signature wit, asking, “Do they have Waitrose in Manchester?”
From difficult beginnings to a lasting friendship and creative collaboration, Graham Norton and Maria McErlane show how shared challenges can create enduring bonds.