Graham Norton Reveals Mark Wahlberg's Shocking On-Air Meltdown

Olivia Bennett, 10/13/2025Graham Norton spills the tea on Mark Wahlberg's infamous 2013 meltdown during his chat show. What was meant to be a promotional interview turned into chaos, with Wahlberg passing out mid-segment. This revelation adds a refreshing dose of honesty to celebrity interviews.

During his appearance at this year's Henley Literary Festival, Norton finally confirmed what industry insiders have whispered about for years: that infamous 2013 encounter with Mark Wahlberg was every bit as catastrophic as the rumors suggested. And honey, in the era of perfectly curated celebrity appearances, this revelation feels particularly refreshing.

"Mark Wahlberg was a weird one because when he arrived, he didn't seem drunk," Norton shared, displaying his characteristic diplomatic flair. But what unfolded next? Pure chaos, darling — or "hell," as Norton so succinctly put it.

Picture this scene: It's 2013, and Wahlberg's promoting some forgettable thriller called "Broken City." (Remember that one? No? Exactly.) Fifteen minutes into what should've been a standard promotional chat, whatever mysterious substance was coursing through Marky Mark's veins decided it was showtime. The result? Television gold of the most cringe-worthy variety.

But here's where it gets truly delicious — during fellow guest Michael Fassbender's segment, Norton glanced over to find Wahlberg completely passed out. Dead to the world. Sleeping Beauty in a designer suit. You simply cannot manufacture this kind of entertainment, darlings.

The timing of Norton's revelation couldn't be more perfect, really. Just as the BBC announces a three-year extension of "The Graham Norton Show" (proving that true talent never goes out of style), we get this glimpse behind the velvet curtain. It's particularly fascinating as we head into 2025's increasingly sanitized celebrity landscape, where most interviews feel about as spontaneous as a royal wedding.

Speaking of timing — Norton's own world is in flux. Between selling his £4.95 million London palace and bidding farewell to his Manhattan pied-à-terre, he's clearly in a mood for both physical and emotional decluttering. Perhaps that explains this sudden burst of candor?

The show's staggering success — 550 episodes across 32 series, darling — speaks volumes about Norton's ability to spin even the most awkward encounters into entertainment gold. As Kalpna Patel-Knight, BBC's Head of Entertainment, so perfectly put it, "Graham sets the gold standard for celebrity interviews." (Though one assumes Mr. Wahlberg might have slept through that particular memo.)

In today's world of heavily scripted celebrity encounters and AI-generated content (honestly, who can tell what's real anymore?), there's something utterly refreshing about Norton's willingness to dish on less-than-perfect moments. It's precisely this blend of honesty and charm that's kept audiences coming back for more — well, that and the delicious possibility of witnessing another unscripted celebrity meltdown.

Let's be real — in an age where most celebrity interviews feel as authentic as this season's designer knockoffs, Norton's candid revelation serves as a glittering reminder that sometimes the best television moments are the ones that go spectacularly, gloriously wrong. And isn't that just fabulous?

Well, darlings, the tea has finally been spilled — and it's scalding hot. Graham Norton, our beloved chat show maestro, just dropped a deliciously candid bomb about his most challenging celebrity guest ever. (Hint: It's not who you'd expect.)During his appearance at this year's Henley Literary Festival, Norton finally confirmed what industry insiders have whispered about for years: that infamous 2013 encounter with Mark Wahlberg was every bit as catastrophic as the rumors suggested. And honey, in the era of perfectly curated celebrity appearances, this revelation feels particularly refreshing."Mark Wahlberg was a weird one because when he arrived, he didn't seem drunk," Norton shared, displaying his characteristic diplomatic flair. But what unfolded next? Pure chaos, darling — or "hell," as Norton so succinctly put it.Picture this scene: It's 2013, and Wahlberg's promoting some forgettable thriller called "Broken City." (Remember that one? No? Exactly.) Fifteen minutes into what should've been a standard promotional chat, whatever mysterious substance was coursing through Marky Mark's veins decided it was showtime. The result? Television gold of the most cringe-worthy variety.But here's where it gets truly delicious — during fellow guest Michael Fassbender's segment, Norton glanced over to find Wahlberg completely passed out. Dead to the world. Sleeping Beauty in a designer suit. You simply cannot manufacture this kind of entertainment, darlings.The timing of Norton's revelation couldn't be more perfect, really. Just as the BBC announces a three-year extension of "The Graham Norton Show" (proving that true talent never goes out of style), we get this glimpse behind the velvet curtain. It's particularly fascinating as we head into 2025's increasingly sanitized celebrity landscape, where most interviews feel about as spontaneous as a royal wedding.Speaking of timing — Norton's own world is in flux. Between selling his £4.95 million London palace and bidding farewell to his Manhattan pied-à-terre, he's clearly in a mood for both physical and emotional decluttering. Perhaps that explains this sudden burst of candor?The show's staggering success — 550 episodes across 32 series, darling — speaks volumes about Norton's ability to spin even the most awkward encounters into entertainment gold. As Kalpna Patel-Knight, BBC's Head of Entertainment, so perfectly put it, "Graham sets the gold standard for celebrity interviews." (Though one assumes Mr. Wahlberg might have slept through that particular memo.)In today's world of heavily scripted celebrity encounters and AI-generated content (honestly, who can tell what's real anymore?), there's something utterly refreshing about Norton's willingness to dish on less-than-perfect moments. It's precisely this blend of honesty and charm that's kept audiences coming back for more — well, that and the delicious possibility of witnessing another unscripted celebrity meltdown.Let's be real — in an age where most celebrity interviews feel as authentic as this season's designer knockoffs, Norton's candid revelation serves as a glittering reminder that sometimes the best television moments are the ones that go spectacularly, gloriously wrong. And isn't that just fabulous?