I thought other writers would say: ‘Oi! Clear off! Go and do your chat show!’
As chat-show favourite Graham Norton becomes a fully-fledged member of the literary set, he tells about how his storylines echo life’s highs and lows knew and the secrets her mother never told.
The story is told in two timelines: Then (40 years previously, telling the story of her mother and how she first met her father); and now, as she juggles her own complicated life with an ex-husband and teenage son.
Graham, 55, could have taken some of the storylines from his own agony columns, as he weaves lonely hearts, contemporary single parenthood, suicide, mental health issues and fractured relationships into the tale. At times, it’s quite dark.
“We all have dark times. Maybe it’s because I’m Irish but, for me, dark times are private times. I might talk to friends but I’m not going to write a newspaper column about it.”
While his storylines aren’t actually from his agony column, he can see the connection, and notes: “What’s interesting about the agony column is people’s resilience and what people can cope with – and I always find that inspiring.”
Radio 2 listeners will hear Graham and fellow comedian Maria McErlane mull over readers’ letters on his Saturday morning agony slot, often taking different standpoints on issues, and there is much laughter on the show.
“Sometimes we go over the edge,” Graham admits. “It all depends on what the problem is. Sometimes the problems are just stupid so you can ridicule people, but if it’s a real problem and you feel that people have actually properly written in for our help, then you have to be respectful.
He laughs loudly when asked if he takes himself seriously as an agony columnist.
“I don’t have qualifications. I’m 55, I’ve been around the block and I take the Telegraph column seriously because there’s a duty of care there. In one letter out of three, I would suggest that people do talk to a proper counsellor or consult a doctor. I still stick my oar in but then I’m covered.”
The novel comes out at the same time as a new season of his chat show, and he confesses there are guests he’d still like to welcome onto the sofa for the first time.
“Angelina (Jolie) is always welcome, so is Brad (Pitt), even though they’re not together any more. We still have never had Julia Roberts, as far as I know, but these conversations always make me nervous as I think, ‘What if we have had them on but I’ve forgotten?”’
Away from the TV and radio studios, Graham lives happily in London with his two dogs, and although he could afford to retire, he doesn’t want to.
“You see friends who don’t work and they go a bit Billy bonkers. They over-analyse everything and become involved in the minutiae of their lives. It’s not very healthy,” he reflects. “I just want to carry on while I’m still having fun.”