The great TV chat show hosts that were every bit as entertaining as their superstar guests

The art of chat show hosting is one that many have tried to master. The genre is so well established that it is almost impossible for newcomers to put their own stamp on the format.

There have been many instances where a host has just got it and thus, confirmed their place in the history books. In this list, in no particular order, we reflect on some of Britain’s best chat show hosts, looking back at why they are so good at their jobs.

Yes we know there will be some people missing but unfortunately, it’s tough luck, as this lot are undeniably the best of the best. Who is your favourite chat show host? Let us know in the comments.

Read more: BBC Absolutely Fabulous cast: What happened to the stars of the French and Saunders-inspired sitcom?

Sir Michael Parkinson

A sad start to the list as Parky passed away only a couple of weeks ago at the age of 88 following a short illness. To many, he is the king of the chat show and has interviewed more celebrities than you can think of.

Between 1971 and 2007 - on two different TV channels (BBC and ITV) - Parkinson was one of this country’s most popular programmes. There were many standout moments including Parky’s interviews with boxing legend Muhammad Ali, former prime minister Tony Blair and actress Meg Ryan - an interview we still feel awkward watching to this day.

For Parky there was one person, however, that he never got to chat to. "Sinatra was the one that got away,” he previously said, referring to singer Frank Sinatra. “Otherwise, I've met everyone I have ever wanted to meet."

Parky is survived by his wife Mary and their three children. Countless people from the world of showbiz paid tribute to him following his death.

Sir Terry Wogan

Equally highly regarded is Sir Terry Wogan, who is near enough always considered a ‘national treasure’. Terry, who was born in Limerick in Ireland, passed away at the age of 77 in 2016.

Much like Michael Parkinson, Terry also hosted his own show (Wogan) between 1982 and 1992. He is perhaps best known for his work on the Eurovision Song Contest, Children in Need and on BBC Radio 2.

Terry, who was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth in 2005, was also notably the first ever host of Blankety Blank, which is currently presented by The Chase’s Bradley Walsh.

The star was brought up and educated as a Roman Catholic but became an atheist at the age of 17. Terry was married to Helen Joyce and the couple shared four children together.

Mrs. Merton

One of two fictional characters on the list, Mrs Merton was played by actress and comedian Caroline Aherne, who passed away in 2016. She appeared in her own show, The Mrs. Merton Show, on the BBC between 1993 and 1998.

During her show Mrs Merton interviewed a wide range of celebrities and asked them outrageous questions. In one memorable moment, she asked the wife of magician Paul Daniels, Debbie McGee, "So, what first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?” She also asked comedian Bernard Manning, after he had clashed with One Foot in the Grave's Richard Wilson, “Who do you vote for now Hitler's dead?” in regards to his racist attitudes.

The talk show was followed up by a sitcom, Mrs Merton and Malcolm, based on Mrs Merton and her son Malcolm, who was played by Craig Cash.

Paul O’Grady

When it was announced that Paul O’Grady had passed away at the age of 67 earlier this year, it felt as if the whole country had gone into mourning. The comedian and presenter was also a popular talk show host, writer and he also worked closely with Battersea Dogs Home.

Paul was famously the man behind Lily Savage, his drag persona whom he performed on many shows as. After retiring the character, Paul fronted his own chat show between 2004 and 2015.

Many stars, including Coronation Street’s Sally Lindsay, Carol Vorderman and Queen Camilla, paid tribute to Paul following his untimely passing. He is survived by husband André Portasio.

Jonathan Ross

When you think of Jonathan Ross two things come to mind: his inability to pronounce words with an ‘r’ and that prank call on The Russell Brand Show. Jonathan is still very much in the chat show game and presents The Jonathan Ross Show on ITV1.

Wossy (as the media sometimes refers to him) began his career on Channel 4 in the late ‘80s. A decade after being at the channel he joined the BBC and his chat show, Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, was hugely successful.

Aside from his work as a chat show host Jonathan also works on The Masked Singer (and its spin offs), is a former host of BBC’s Film programme and has also presented the British Comedy Awards on a number of different occasions.

Jonathan is married to film writer Jane Goldman and the couple share three children together. The family live in Hampstead, London.

Graham Norton

Following Jonathan Ross’ departure from the BBC in 2010, a Friday night slot needed filling. Luckily for the Beeb there was one man who fit the bill.

Prior to landing its coveted Friday evening slot, The Graham Norton Show had already been a success for three years on BBC Two. Graham signing a two-year-deal with the broadcaster ultimately prompted Jonathan to hand in his notice at the channel.

Graham’s career began in the late ‘90s and much like Jonathan he started his career on Channel 4. Prior to becoming the chat show host we know and love, Graham was an actor and comedian and famously appeared in Father Ted - find out what happened to the cast of that show here.

Graham’s success could have been cut very short, though, as in 1989 he was stabbed by a group of attackers and lost half of his blood. He said that an elderly couple were the ones who found him and that they "saved his life" after calling for an ambulance. He did not think the attack was homophobic, as he was walking alone at the time. He was hospitalized for two-and-a-half weeks before eventually recovering from the attack.

Alongside his chat show Graham also appears as a judge on Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK and also took over from Terry Wogan as the Eurovision Song Contest’s British commentator. From 2010 to 2020 he presented the Saturday-morning slot on BBC Radio 2 but in 2021 he began presenting on Saturdays and Sundays on Virgin Radio UK.

Joan Rivers

Okay so this one isn’t strictly speaking British but she’s still included as she hosted a British chat show. In 1986 late American icon Joan Rivers, who passed away in 2014, fronted the short-lived UK show Joan Rivers: Can We Talk?

Joan made several UK television appearances throughout her life and guested on the likes of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, The Paul O’Grady Show and Des O’Connor Tonight - more on him later.

Joan was known for her blunt, often controversial comedic persona. Over in the States she hosted multiple chat shows and for her work she has received an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, as well as nomination for a Tony Award.

Trisha Goddard

Trisha hosted one of the most popular shows of the early Noughties. The series - which focused on relationships, families in crisis, and reunions - first aired on ITV from 2005 to 2009 but in 2012 moved across to Channel 5.

Trisha’s Channel 5 series was cancelled after two years and the presenter then took her show to the US - but sadly, it was also cancelled after two series. The presenter has since made countless other appearances on UK shows like Loose Women, Good Morning Britain and Big Brother’s Bit on the Side.

Last year Trisha became one of the two main hosts of Channel 4’s You Are What You Eat - a role previously held by I’m A Celebrity star Gillian McKeith. She also presents on talkradio and its television equivalent talkTV.

James Corden

Moving on to a presenter who actually cracked America, James Corden has recently finished his stunt as host of The Late Late Show. He took over from Scottish comedian Craig Ferguson in 2015.

Whilst American audiences only got to know him in 2015, British viewers were well aware of James’ work long before. Here in the UK he’s best known for co-creating BBC comedy series Gavin & Stacey with Welsh actress Ruth Jones - and he also plays Smithy in the show.

James has also hosted other shows here including A League Of Their Own, as well as The Brit Awards a number of times. He is married to Julia Carey and the couple share three children together.

Alan Carr

Fun fact: Alan Carr’s upbringing was actually the subject of ITVX comedy series Changing Ends - which you can read more about here. His breakthrough was in 2001 when he won the City Life Best Newcomer of the Year and the BBC New Comedy Awards.

In the years that followed Alan became a recognisable face thanks to shows like The Friday Night Project and Alan Carr’s Celebrity Ding Dong but it was in 2009 that his career really took off. Alan’s chat show, Chatty Man, was a huge success and ran between 2009 and 2016 and saw him interview a huge range of celebrity guests. Alan has gone on to work on a whole host of other television shows and even appeared in films like Nativity!

Hardship came for the star in January last year when he and ex-husband Paul Drayton split following a drink driving conviction for Paul.

Dame Edna Everage

“Hello possums!” Equally famous as the other fictional character on this list, Mrs Merton, is Dame Edna Everage. The Australian dame was played by comedian Barry Humphries, who tragically passed away earlier this year at the age of 89.

Edna described her own chat-shows as "an intimate conversation between two friends, one of whom is a lot more interesting than the other". The character was used to satirise the cult of celebrity, class snobbery, and prudishness and was often used by Barry to poke fun at the political leaders and fashions of the times.

Here in the UK Dame Edna hosted The Dame Edna Experience, which ran for twelve episodes between 1987 and 1989. During the show she interviewed several huge stars including Sean Connery, Larry Hagman and Joan Rivers. She also made guest appearances on several other shows.

Des O’Connor

Long before Des O’Connor was ‘the second Des’ on Channel 4’s Countdown, he was a long-time TV chat show host. The Des O’Connor Show ran from 1963 to 1973 on ITV and was hugely successful.

Six years after Des’ first chat show came to an end, he jumped ship to BBC (before eventually returning to ITV) with Des O’Connor Tonight, which ran for seven series between 1977 and 2002. Following that series’ end, Des formed a TV partnership with Melanie Sykes for Today with Des and Mel - which ran for four years.

An extremely multi talented individual, Des was far from just a television presenter. He was also a comedian and a singer - something his close friends Morecambe and Wise constantly mocked.

In 2020 Des died in his sleep in hospital, aged 88, following a fall at his home in Buckinghamshire a week earlier. In a January 2021 interview, his widow Jodie revealed that in 2017, Des had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Russell Harty

The final name on the list is a TV presenter who charmed audiences in the 1970s and ‘80s. During his successful career Russell Harty worked for both ITV and BBC with his chat show, Russell Harty Plus.

Russell was initially ITV’s rival to Michael Parkinson, who at the time worked for the BBC. Perhaps one of his most controversial interviews came in November 1980 when he chatted to model, singer and actress Grace Jones. Due to the stage positioning Russell was positioned with his back to Grace and she repeatedly tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.

For the last six years of his life, Russell’s partner was the Irish novelist Jamie O'Neill. In mid-1988 he became ill with hepatitis B and was admitted to St James's University Hospital, Leeds. He died in St James' University Hospital on June 8, 1988 at the age of 53 from liver failure caused by hepatitis. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.