Post by Teddy Bear on Oct 8, 2006 0:42:18 GMT
Graham Norton has a contract with the BBC worth 4 million pounds a year, paid for by the TV license fee - in other words the general public. Personally I find him overrated, especially at this price, but the BBC has long since shown it has no problem spending public money and giving little of value on return.
Now Norton has admitted to taking a variety of Class A drugs, and far from regretting it, he actually tells how enjoyable it was, particularly with Ecstasy. In typical BBC fashion about not admitting they have seen or done anything wrong, they defend him with the lamest mealy mouthed kind of excuse you could imagine.
Just wait till figures of drug abusers hits a new record high, who will the media seek to blame? The government, the police, parents? But not themselves. They are above blame.
Graham Norton admits: 'I've taken cocaine'
By RICHARD SIMPSON, Showbusiness Reporter
(Highlights mine)
Now Norton has admitted to taking a variety of Class A drugs, and far from regretting it, he actually tells how enjoyable it was, particularly with Ecstasy. In typical BBC fashion about not admitting they have seen or done anything wrong, they defend him with the lamest mealy mouthed kind of excuse you could imagine.
Just wait till figures of drug abusers hits a new record high, who will the media seek to blame? The government, the police, parents? But not themselves. They are above blame.
Graham Norton admits: 'I've taken cocaine'
By RICHARD SIMPSON, Showbusiness Reporter
Norton described ecstasy as 'absolutely amazing'
Graham Norton has caused outrage by revealing he has a drug habit - and has enjoyed "lots of drugs" including ecstasy and cocaine.
Norton, who has a £4 million-a-year contract with the BBC, also admitted the only reason he does not take them more regularly is that he is afraid of being caught.
MPs reacted angrily to his comments yesterday, while the BBC appeared to defend Norton, saying the comments - in a women's magazine - had been "aimed at an adult audience".
Norton - who is openly gay - said: "Let's face it, I've tried lots of drugs but what would really bug me if I got busted in the tabloids, is that I do them so rarely."
Norton, 43, a star of primetime shows like as How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Strictly Dance Fever, added that he preferred stronger drugs than cocaine.
He said: "I think that coke is middle-aged stuff. It's quite a slow drug that involves coffee tables. To me, it's a middle-class choice of drug."
Norton said he prefers something a little stronger - and by that he means ecstasy, which he is an enthusiastic advocate of.
He said: "The only time I took ecstasy was years and years ago. It was absolutely amazing. It was just fantastic - really really fun."
However, he adds: "The downside of drugs - and this is absolutely not judgmental - is that you end up spending evenings with people who, under any other circumstances, you wouldn't like, yet somehow you are in their house, tasking drugs with them."
Norton concludes that nowadays he sticks more often to alcohol, which he says is easier to get hold of. "I like alcohol. I know what it does for me, I can control it and I can go to a shop and buy it."
Meanwhile, Marie Claire's guest interviewer, Janet Street Porter, made a revelation of their own, saying: "I took two E's in one night. When you take that second one you get completely wasted."
MP John Whittingdale, Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee, said: "I regard it as wholly unacceptable. It is one thing for a public figure to confess to drug taking as a number have done and express some kind of regret and warn others of the dangers.
"But what Norton appears to be saying is more of a celebration of drugs and a boast of his considerable experience of taking drugs.
"That is something we do not expect from a public figure. It raises some very serious questions. I hope that the management of the BBC will consider whether it is appropriate.
"Public figures have a responsibility to set an example and to support those trying to get across the message that ecstasy is extremely dangerous and can kill you. Comment saying things like 'I've only done it a few times but it was marvellous' just don't help.
"I am the MP in whose constituency where Leah Betts' parents live - she died taking ecstasy. I am sure the BBC will wish to look at this. He needs to be told that this is unacceptable behaviour for someone who receives a great deal of money from the public purse. It is up to the BBC now to take action against him. One would hope at least that he would issue a clarification."
The BBC defended Norton last night in a statement which read: "The issues Graham discusses in this interview are aimed at an adult audience and reflect the frank and open nature of his personality. They do not in any way impact on his ability to be a first class entertainer on BBC television."
(Highlights mine)
