GRAHAM Norton is the most influential gay Irish person, according to a newly published list of 2014's leading LGBT figures worldwide.
The Corkonian even managed to claim a space in the top ten – taking eighth place where last year he ranked number 16 in the inaugural such list.
Published by The Guardian on the weekend that Gay Pride marches were taking place across the globe, the title claimed its World Pride Power List came ‘at a time where homosexuality remains illegal in 80 countries’.
They add: “The list is a chance to celebrate what has been, and is being, done to promote equality.”
Norton is listed for his consistent success within the British television industry.
He is also noted for his ‘criticism of RTE’ for settling out of court with opponents of gay marriage who claimed they had been defamed on the Saturday Night Show.
“Is this man unstoppable?” the list asks.
Elsewhere second generation Irish stars Paul O’Grady, Alan Carr and Mary Portas also feature in the global power chart, at numbers 14, 17 and 30 respectively.
The list was published on Saturday, June 28, the same day that London welcomed 30,000 people to its Pride event in Trafalgar square – which was headlined by 2014 Eurovision winner Conchita.
It was also the same day that Norton worried fans by failing to turn up for his 10am-1pm BBC Radio 2 show, leaving listeners questioning whether he had opted to attend the festival instead.
While veteran DJ Tony Blackburn and Norton’s co-host Maria McErlane filled in for the Irish star, his management team later confirmed he was ‘unwell’ during Friday night and ‘unable’ to do the show.
The World Pride Top Ten ranked as follows
1 Laverne Co, actor and activist
2 Ellen DeGeneres, comedian and presenter
3 Tom Daley, diver and TV presenter
4 Stephen Fry, polymath and TV presenter
5 Sir Ian McKellen, actor
6 Gok Wan, TV presenter
7 Clare Balding, TV presenter
8 Graham Norton, TV presenter
9 Elton John, musician
10 Anthony Watson, CIO, Nike
