Few individuals can claim the distinction of appearing in a Taylor Swift music video, but Graham Norton has officially joined that prestigious circle. During a candid conversation with Maria McErlane on the Wanging On podcast, the iconic Irish broadcaster reflected on his participation in the visual for Swift’s latest track, “Opalite.”
Norton described the filming process, which took place in late 2025 at the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon, as a high-scale cinematic event. “It was akin to a major film production—a truly massive undertaking,” Norton shared. “The energy on set was delightful, making the entire project a thoroughly enjoyable experience.”
The music video features an ensemble of high-profile talent, including Cillian Murphy, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Domhnall Gleeson, along with a guest appearance by Lewis Capaldi. The project serves as a creative extension of an October episode of The Graham Norton Show, where Swift and the “Opalite” cast originally appeared together. During that broadcast, Gleeson had playfully expressed his desire to be cast in one of Swift’s cinematic music videos.
In an Instagram post introducing the project, Swift lauded Norton as “insanely charismatic and lovable,” revealing that the concept for the video was born during their time on his talk show sofa. Norton corroborated this, noting that the vision struck the pop titan in a “blinding flash.” He added, “Taylor is a phenomenal director. Her ability to maintain her composure and direct with such ease is extraordinary.”
The “Opalite” visual, characterized by a nostalgic 1990s aesthetic, was written and directed by Swift herself. It premiered as an exclusive on Spotify and Apple Music before its wider release on YouTube. The track follows the monumental success of her album The Life of a Showgirl, which commanded the top of the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks and marked her 14th Number 1 album in the United Kingdom.
According to midweek chart data, “Opalite” is currently on track to become Swift’s eighth U.K. Number 1 single. Should it reach the summit, The Life of a Showgirl will become her first album to produce two U.K. chart-toppers, following the massive success of “The Fate of Ophelia,” which spent seven weeks at the top in early 2025.
Closing out his podcast appearance, Norton joked about the difficulty of keeping his cameo a secret since filming wrapped in November. “I’m actually quite impressed with my own self-restraint,” he remarked. “On New Year’s Eve, I was with a group of friends and was so tempted to spill the news, but I managed to stay silent until the official debut.”
