Graham Norton used the opening monologue of his BBC New Year's Eve programme to target the US President Donald Trump during Wednesday's annual special.
As has become usual for the corporation, Mr Norton returned with his talk show to say farewell to 2025, soon followed by Ronan Keating on BBC One, while Jools Holland returned with his Hootenanny show on BBC Two.
But while Mr Keating and Mr Holland kept their shows very much geared towards music and celebration, Mr Norton couldn't resist venturing into the world of politics.
The Dublin-born presenter, 62, turned his attention to the US President's visit to Britain to meet the Royal Family during his review of 2025.
Graham Norton's New Year's Eve special aired on BBC One
|BBC
Displaying an image of Melania Trump wearing a striking, wide-brimmed purple hat, Mr Norton declared the First Lady resembled "a lamp" in the eye-catching headpiece.
The veteran broadcaster then proposed that the First Lady's bold fashion choice may have been deliberately selected to prevent her husband from getting close enough for a kiss.
Mr Norton continued his mockery by playfully adopting Ms Trump's voice, saying: "I'm just a lamp. Please ignore me, I'm just a lamp."
At the same time, footage of her distinctive purple headwear appeared on screen.
Graham Norton mocked President Trump and Melania
|BBC
The Irish comedian then progressed his routine further, claiming there was a security rationale behind the First Lady's fondness for wide-brimmed hats.
"Actually, there is a security reason why Melania always wears a hat," Mr Norton teed up.
"A nice wide brim can literally save her from a fate worse than death," he remarked, before the programme showed clips of the President attempting to kiss his wife's cheek, only to be blocked by the hat's brim.
Mr Norton also observed that while King Charles and Queen Camilla appeared content to be photographed alongside the US President, the same could not be said for his wife.
Graham Norton also joked about President Trump's meeting with the Royal Family
|BBC
"He was welcomed by the King and Queen, who were clearly happy to be photographed with him - Melania, not so much," the presenter told his audience.
The barbed comments from the BBC's long-serving talk show host towards President Trump come at a rather contentious time between the corporation and the US leader.
President Trump has promised to sue the BBC for $10billion following the misleading editing of one of its Panorama documentaries. The saga has already led to the resignation of former director-general Tim Davie.
Elsewhere during Mr Norton's New Year's Eve show, he welcomed Hollywood heavyweights Tom Hiddleston, Laura Dern, and Will Arnett.
Melania's hat 👒, @katyperry in space 🚀, #CelebrityTraitors is a hit, and Rachel Reeves... is still chancellor. A pretty good summary of 2025, thanks Graham! 😅 #TheGNShow
— Graham Norton Show (@TheGNShow) December 31, 2025
British talent was also well represented, with Carey Mulligan, comedian Tim Key, and rising star Owen Cooper completing the celebrity line-up.
Musical duties fell to Alison Limerick, who treated viewers to a performance of her classic dance track Where Love Lives.
While those in attendance appeared in good spirits, laughing along with Mr Norton's putdowns and celebrity interviews, it's safe to say the mood was far from unanimously impressed at home.
Taking to X during Mr Norton's show, some lodged complaints about the episode's format, with one social media user going as far as to brand it a "clusterf***".
Graham Norton's New Years show didn't exactly go down well with everyone at home
|X
Elsewhere, another complained: "How boring is the @TheGNShow Graham Norton show. Enough to put most people to sleep before the NYE chimes. #GrahamNorton #boring."
"This has to be one of the WORSE Graham Norton shows and especially for New Year Eve," another weighed in before a fellow viewer bemoaned the entire evening's offerings across the channels: "Tonight's TV has been s***e. #GrahamNorton." (sic)
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