Changing the Subject

In the midst of the bustling scene, Graham playfully spread his hands, accepting the teasing and complaints with a grin, before rolling his eyes dramatically. "Alright, alright," he sighed with exaggerated exasperation, "I was just channeling my inner Oprah Winfrey."

He then twisted his fingers in a theatrical imitation of Oprah, pointing toward Renly as if delivering a grand statement. "It's not that you've been hinting so much that I'm confused—it's just that I'm embarrassed again. The show's tone has completely shifted now!"

Laughter erupted from the audience, and Graham skillfully defused the situation before changing the topic. "Honestly, I've been telling the show we should do a special on Renly. I'm really curious now—there are just too many questions. For example, where has he been these last two months? After winning the Olivier Award, what's his next move? And what are his plans for the future? Is 'Tomorrow's Edge 2' on his schedule? Oh, and will he be watching 'Iron Man 3' or 'Fast & Furious 6' this summer?"

Graham raised his eyebrows, dramatically suggesting that the questions were about to take a much more direct turn.

The audience responded with a playful cheer.

Renly remained calm, not responding immediately. Graham paused, but before Renly could speak, he continued, "But, of course, we all know that Renly is a mysterious actor. Let's give him some space."

Graham's gaze shifted to Ed, and just when everyone thought the conversation would shift, Graham unexpectedly brought up the topic of Renly's family. "By the way, Renly, how are your parents doing?"

The sudden question hit home, and the audience fell silent, but Graham didn't wait for Renly's response. "Send them my regards," he said before quickly turning back to Ed. "So, Ed, not long ago you attended the Grammys, right?"

"Yes, it was incredible—so many top stars. It was like a big party," Ed nodded sincerely.

"And you met Taylor Swift," Graham added.

"Yes, I did," Ed confirmed.

Then, without warning, Graham turned back to Renly, his eyes gleaming. "Renly, do you know Taylor Swift?"

"No, I don't," Renly answered succinctly. His calm response caught Graham off guard.

"You don't know Taylor Swift?" Graham exclaimed, clearly surprised.

Renly shrugged slightly. "What about John Codd, Adam Gracia, Billie Piper, or Hannah Waddingham?"

Graham choked, looking surprised, and then playfully shrank back, "Oh! I didn't know you were such a master of the obscure names, Renly."

The names Renly mentioned were all well-known West End theater actors—famous in their own right, but less recognizable to the general public.

Renly raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Graham Norton, now you understand how the other guests feel on 'The Norton Show,' right?"

Graham stared at him, incredulous, before slapping his thighs dramatically. The audience erupted into laughter. "Master Renly! Master Renly!" Graham mockingly protested before shaking his head. "But you promised me this would be fun—what is happening here?"

The audience roared with laughter.

Graham quickly steered the conversation back to Ed. "So, Taylor Swift—what do you think of her?"

"She's incredibly kind. By the way, Renly, if Taylor knew, she'd be heartbroken—she's a huge fan of your work." Ed added, glancing at Renly. "She asked me if I could introduce her to you. She really hopes to meet you in person to tell you how much she loves your films."

Renly remained silent, maintaining his calm demeanor.

Graham wasn't ready to let this go. "No, no, no! Master Renly, you're too cool about this," Graham mimicked Renly's calm, trying to be over the top with his impression.

Renly smiled, raising his hands with a mock sigh. "Honestly, Graham, I'm more curious about when the interview between Ed and Daniel is going to start. Can you just let me go?"

There was no serious response, but the audience loved it—Renly's quick wit shifted the focus just in time to keep the mood light.

Graham quickly moved on to talk to Ed about his upcoming album and concert schedule. Compared to Renly's charismatic presence, Ed's more straightforward answers made the conversation feel more "normal."

"Daniel, Daniel, Daniel," Graham began, turning to the next guest, "you've been busy lately, starring in two movies—'Kill Your Love' and 'The Magic Horn,' right?"

"Yes," Daniel nodded nervously. "Actually, I'm four months older than Renly," he said with a sheepish smile. "I was born in July, and Renly was born in November."

Renly, sitting nearby, leaned forward with interest. "Have you verified that?"

His casual phrasing created an ambiguous moment, adding a layer of humor to the situation.

Graham paused, catching the implication, and then grinned. "Have you checked his info? Come on, spill it, Daniel!"

The studio erupted in laughter as Daniel tried to play it off. "I've checked, and I know that when it comes to height, that's a topic we should definitely avoid!"

At 5'4" (165 cm), Daniel was much shorter than Renly, and the contrast became a playful point of discussion.

Renly laughed, "So, what does that mean for Dane DeHaan's height?"

Daniel shot back, "Well, Dane's barely taller than me, but you..." He pointed at Renly. "You're a giant!"

The audience howled with laughter, as Renly smiled, relieved. "I'm just glad I'm not too unattractive!"

The lighthearted banter kept the laughter rolling, but eventually, Graham had to bring it to a close. "Don't worry, Renly, you're still my favorite," he said, and the audience cheered.

Daniel, still trying to recover from the earlier misstep, added, "I'm really curious—why haven't you ever taken on a role like Lucian Carr in 'Kill Your Love'?"

Realizing the implication, Daniel quickly backpedaled. Before he could explain, Graham jumped in. "Oh, Daniel, come on—are you asking Renly to confess?"

Daniel could only laugh and shake his head, while Renly grinned, "Thank you for your kind words, Daniel. Thank you."

The playful back-and-forth left the audience in stitches, and Graham's show wrapped up with a memorable moment of humor.