Graham Norton has joked his National Television Awards prize will “turn to hell” after he forgot to thank his mother while on stage.
The host of The Graham Norton Show, which has been running for 10 years, picked up the special recognition prize for his years of service to broadcasting.
Accepting the award from actor Hugh Bonneville, a teary Graham said: “Look I know, I know, I know, this is a sort of NTAs pity party because it’s the only way I can get one of these over Ant and Dec.
“I feel so old, I feel like the NTAs have invited me to my own funeral. Turns out it was great – Will Smith and my mother were there and Dolly and Hugh – thank you so much to the NTAs for this, I don’t quite know what to say because legions of people have worked on the show over the years.”
The star also thanked his management and a close trio of friends for supporting him throughout his career – but realised while walking off stage he had omitted his mother.
He said backstage: “This lovely award will turn to hell because as I was walking off I thought, ‘Oh my God I forgot to thank my mother’, so what I need to be doing is phone her and build some bridges.”
Throwback to Graham Norton winning the Special Recognition Award tonight! Congratulations Graham #NTAs #NTA2017 pic.twitter.com/mKXKcdV7Kd
— National TV Awards (@OfficialNTAs) January 25, 2017
Graham’s mother, Rhoda, said 1990s sitcom Father Ted, his first major TV role, was the platform that gave him his break, and that “he was always trying to make people laugh” as a child.
She added: “I think he’ll be thrilled to win this award, and really shocked.”
She was part of a tribute video for Graham that included messages from stars including Dame Judi Dench and Dolly Parton and the host added: “I’ve never seen her on the telly and I’m gutted I didn’t say thank you to her.”
