Graham Norton shares rare insight about his marriage to filmmaker husband Jonathan McLeod

Graham Norton shares rare insight about marriage to filmmaker husband
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Lisa McLoughlin 13 June 2023
The Weekender

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Graham Norton has shared a rare insight about his marriage to husband Jonathan ‘Jono’ McLeod.

The presenter wed the filmmaker last July in his native West Cork among 120 guests, who were treated to a performance from Lulu as well as a DJ set from Irish drag artist and activist Panti Bliss.

Norton, who had previously kept his relationship out of the spotlight, shared details from their big day and couldn’t help but make light of marrying later in life, joking that “till death do us part” was “more achievable” at the age of 60.

Speaking to The Guardian, he said: “I had a joke in my speech: the vows are much more manageable. ‘Till death do us part’ seems more achievable at our age.

“If you get married at 23, that’s a big ask. We only have to put up with each other for a couple of decades. And then I’ll be out of here.”

The Irish broadcaster also explained that he and his filmmaker other half decided to wed in Ireland to accommodate Norton’s 91-year-old mother Rhoda Walker.

Norton married Jono McLeod in July 2022, pictured at a screening for his film My Old School last August
Getty Images

He told the outlet: “I got married this year and we had our wedding party near to where my mother lives in Ireland just so she could come. She wouldn’t have been well enough to come to London so West Cork it was. And it made me very happy.”

Discussing life as a married man, the Virgin Radio star added: “It’s good so far, it would be awful if it wasn’t at this stage, just a few months in, I’d like to think that even I could manage a few months.

“I’m from that generation of gays who assumed it was never going to be on the cards. So, one, it’s extraordinary that it can happen, I mean, I never gave up hope of finding the one. If it was a surprise, it was a pleasant surprise.”

Mr McLeod is an esteemed Scottish filmmaker, who last year released My Old School starring Alan Cumming.

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