One of the UK’s most well-known TV presenters surprised staff at an Angus cafe after making an impromptu visit with his pet dog.
Graham Norton told locals he was on a “jaunt” to the region after stopping off at Arbroath’s Bon Bon tea room for a sandwich and a cuppa – just ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest finale which he commentates on.
The comedian, the face of TV’s Graham Norton Show, arrived in the dog-friendly venue on the town’s High Street with his canine companion, a black cockapoo named Douglas.
It comes just days after the Irishman sat down to speak to Hollywood legend Diane Keaton and fellow stars of the big screen, Jessica Chastain, Kevin Bacon and Michael Fassbender, for the chat show.
Staff at the cafe, Siobhan Gill, Daniel McAllister and Chantele Gibbon, described him as a “true gentleman” after he turned up out of the blue on Monday.
Manager and chef at Bon Bon, Sharlene Taylor, said Mr Norton had been “pleasant” and “shy” when approached for a photograph by staff. He also gave her colleagues his autograph.
The Eurovision Song Contest, which is taking place in Kiev, is underway and Mr Norton is lined up to commentate on the finale on Saturday evening.
Miss Taylor said he is the only celebrity that had visited the tea room since its opening last year.
She added: “He was just saying he was up here on a jaunt. He had his dog with him. The front area is designated for dogs coming in with owners, we sell little bags of dog treats as well.
“The staff were saying he was a true gentleman, very pleasant and a little bit shy. He just said he was up visiting and was around for a few more days.
“I think everybody was a bit kind of like ‘is that really him?’ I think they were all a bit starstruck, especially being as big as he is. I had just been watching him on TV.
“This is the first famous person to come through the doors, and that is us coming up for our year’s anniversary.
“He left a £5 tip, so I am sure he must have felt he was served very well.”
She added the people of Arbroath had been cheered up by having a famous face visiting.
Miss Taylor said: “Everybody thinks it is great. I suppose we were thinking ‘why Arbroath’, but why not? It has beautiful beaches, cliff areas and nice scenery all around.”
Mr Norton began his career as a comedian and actor, starring in classic Irish comedy series Father Ted. He is also a radio presenter and an author.
