GRAHAM Norton was a cult hero when he first started his own TV show.

Openly gay, the funnyman interviewed a variety of different guests, and very well, too.

But, the latest BBC weekend reality show Strictly Dance Fever, in which couples compete for a £50,000 cash prize, shows not only how accomplished he has become but also how all-embracing the viewing public now is in its entertainment tastes.

Norton can make as many innuendoes as he likes, raise as many eyebrows and make funny faces as he feels able, and we love it.

He was warm, chatty and endearing as host, putting dancers at their ease and empathising with their upsets. He loved the Bolton couple (who unfortunately went out but did very well), especially the idea of little Suzanne Gaskell being "wazzed about" by her much bigger partner Paul Culshaw, and made the programme a real success.

John Inman eat your heart out.