Ezra: I’m Nort new chat King

GEORGE STAYS ONLINE

GRAHAM Norton can sleep easy because George Ezra has ruled out turning his hit chat show podcast into a TV show... for now.

The chart-topper’s Ezra & Friends programme has become a huge hit online thanks to chats with star pals like Ed Sheeran and Elton John this year.

But he believes keeping off the telly is key to the show’s success.

George told me: “I’m not going to be turning into the next Graham Norton any time soon.

“The reason it’s so appealing is, its me, two microphones and that’s it – that’s why it works.”

Whether he likes it or not, though, his revealing interviews have gained huge interest and become news stories in their own rights.

He agreed: “I didn’t realise the show would travel as much as it did. I hope future guests don’t realise that otherwise I will be in quarantine at festivals and nobody will talk to me. I’ve already been surprised by the calibre of guests that we’ve had which means the goalposts are pretty wide for future shows.”

Things are going pretty well on the music front too. After Shotgun hit No1, George announced details of his biggest UK arena tour for next March. Then he hopes to repeat that success in the US.

He explained: “I think the Americans get me but I find it hard to gauge the success.

“We did a six-week tour but with that you’ve only scratched the surface – and I’m not against the idea of going again.” Then it will be on to the next record.

He said: “I hope to move on to the third album much quicker than I did the second. It took too long – I much prefer being busy.

“But collaborating is still one of those things I’m not sure about. There’s still a lot of stuff I want to write about myself first.” ¬ÊGeorge’s 10-date 2018 UK tour kicks off at the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena March 7.