"One drunk celebrity turned a talk show into chaos—and the host still remembers it vividly."
Graham Norton recently opened up about a memorable (and messy) episode of his show involving a heavily intoxicated Mark Wahlberg—an incident so wild that it left a lasting impression on the veteran host. But here’s the twist: Wahlberg didn’t even seem drunk at first.
At the 2025 Henley Literary Festival, Norton—a five-time BAFTA winner—recalled the infamous 2013 appearance, where Wahlberg, then promoting Broken City, spiraled into what the host described as "hell." "When he arrived, he didn’t seem drunk," Norton admitted, per The Independent. "He was talking about his film, sharing stunt stories—then 15 minutes in, whatever he’d consumed kicked in hard."
And this is the part most people miss: Wahlberg didn’t just ramble—he hijacked the show. He talked over guests like Sarah Silverman and Michael Fassbender, plopped onto Norton’s lap (and played with his nipples, because why not?), and derailed every anecdote. "No one could tell a story without him interrupting," Norton said. The only respite? When Wahlberg fell asleep mid-show, letting Fassbender finally share his tale. "We don’t encourage that," Norton deadpanned.
Controversy alert: Some viewers blamed the show for allegedly getting guests drunk—a myth Norton fiercely shut down. "If you see someone drunk, they arrived that way," he clarified. Guests are offered maybe two drinks max, leading Norton to joke: "If you want to be drunk on my show, pre-game beforehand." (Cue the debate: Should talk shows serve alcohol at all? Sound off in the comments!)
Wahlberg later addressed the chaos, telling Digital Spy that people "took it too seriously"—though Norton, ever the diplomat, brushed it off as a relatable mishap. "We’ve all been the drunkest at a dinner party," he laughed. "No judgment here."
So, was it a hilarious blooper or an unprofessional trainwreck? And should celebrities ‘pre-load’ before live interviews—or is that a recipe for disaster? Drop your hot takes below!
