Prince William Opens Up About Celebrity Traitors, His Abandoned DJ Dreams and the Career He Might Have Chosen Instead of Royal Life
Prince William has offered an unusually personal glimpse into life behind the royal title during his first appearance on The Graham Norton Show, revealing his family’s obsession with Celebrity Traitors, his admiration for Christopher Nolan’s films and the career he once imagined pursuing if he had not been destined to become king.
The Prince of Wales surprised the audience by joining host Graham Norton during a special edition of the BBC programme dedicated to the Earthshot Prize. He appeared on the pre-recorded show while Norton was chatting with actors Cate Blanchett, Robert Irwin and Hannah Waddingham.
Although William’s main focus was the environmental initiative he founded in 2020, the conversation also touched on his personal interests, his support for Aston Villa and what he likes to do when he wants to switch off from royal responsibilities.
William Reveals His Family’s Obsession With Celebrity Traitors
One of the lighter moments came when William discussed the BBC’s Celebrity Traitors, admitting that the programme has become a favourite in the Wales household.
“I love it, the family love it. Charlotte and Louis are obsessed with it. It’s really good telly,” he told Norton.
The prince also recalled an amusing encounter with former EastEnders actor Ross Kemp, who appeared in the first episode of the celebrity reality series.
William explained that he saw Kemp the day after the premiere and decided to test his reaction by making physical contact with him in a carefully appropriate way.
“I couldn’t help but try – in the most appropriate way – to touch him to see what reaction I got from him,” William said.
His experiment produced the response he had hoped for, as he added that Kemp turned out to be “really jumpy”.
The exchange offered a rare glimpse of the prince’s playful side, showing that even a future king can get caught up in the excitement surrounding a popular television programme.
The Two Careers William Once Considered
William also revealed what he might have done professionally if his future had not been shaped by his position in the line of succession.
Rather than imagining himself in another prestigious role, he said he had once considered becoming a police officer. He later developed an interest in becoming a DJ, although he admitted that his musical ambitions did not amount to much.
“I did want to be a policeman when I was younger, I thought I could make a good one. And then I went through a phase of wanting to be a DJ – I wasn’t very good,” he said.
The prince’s comments provided a glimpse into the alternative paths he once contemplated before royal duties became central to his life.
He also explained that music and films help him relax, particularly when he wants to take his mind away from work.
William said he enjoys becoming immersed in films that encourage deeper thought. While he appreciates action movies, he is especially drawn to stories that explore more complex ideas.
Why Christopher Nolan’s Films Appeal to the Prince
Among William’s favourite filmmakers is Christopher Nolan, whose work he praised during the conversation.
“I’m a big fan of everything Christopher Nolan does. His films are fantastic,” he said.
The prince singled out The Dark Knight trilogy, describing its psychological depth and darker themes as particularly appealing.
He also praised Nolan’s ability to take ambitious, unconventional concepts and turn them into entertaining films.
“He takes concepts that are completely out there and makes them incredibly entertaining,” William explained.
The discussion added another personal detail to an appearance that largely centred on the prince’s public work, offering viewers a better understanding of the films and creative interests he enjoys away from official engagements.
William’s enthusiasm for cinema also gave Norton an opportunity to explore a more relaxed side of his guest before the conversation returned to the environmental cause behind the programme.
The Story Behind William’s Earthshot Prize
Much of the interview focused on the Earthshot Prize, the environmental initiative William established in 2020 to identify and support people developing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Explaining what inspired him to create the project, the prince said he had spent years hearing about environmental problems and had become increasingly frustrated by the pessimism surrounding the subject.
“For many years I was hearing stories about environment issues and one thing that struck me was the negativity and doom which got me down,” he said.
William wanted to find a way to communicate the seriousness of the climate crisis without leaving people feeling that the situation was hopeless.
His solution was to create an awards initiative that could bring urgency and optimism together, drawing attention to people already working to protect the planet.
“I thought we could do something more powerful and more optimistic and the idea of an awards’ ceremony came about and we could talk about urgency and optimism together. It’s all about getting excited,” he explained.
He believes that highlighting successful environmental projects can encourage wider participation and help promising ideas reach more people.
“There are some amazing people out there doing things to protect the world. We could really highlight what is being done and scale them to the next level to have more impact around the world,” he added.
The prince also stressed that tackling climate change requires cooperation rather than relying on a single individual or organisation. Through the Earthshot Prize, he hopes to bring innovators together with investors, advocates and others who can help turn promising ideas into solutions with a wider global impact.
The initiative aims to give finalists access to the expertise, professional networks and investment they need to expand their work.
Cate Blanchett and Robert Irwin Praise the Initiative
William was joined by several guests who have connections to the Earthshot Prize and its environmental mission.
Cate Blanchett, a member of the Earthshot Prize Council, described the initiative as a “tapestry of solutions”, reflecting the range of ideas and approaches needed to address environmental challenges.
Hannah Waddingham, who hosted the prize’s 2023 awards ceremony in Singapore, praised the support available to finalists and the opportunities the initiative creates for them to expand their impact.
Robert Irwin, the son of late Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin and an Earthshot Prize Global Ambassador, spoke about the programme’s potential to inspire young people and encourage a new generation to become environmental advocates.
Their contributions reinforced the central message of William’s appearance: environmental progress depends on identifying effective solutions and helping the people behind them take their work further.
The special episode also featured a musical performance by singer Jorja Smith.
A Major Global Event Planned for November
William’s television appearance comes as preparations continue for the next major Earthshot Prize event, scheduled to take place in November.
The event is expected to bring together more than 5,000 participants and will be streamed on Prime Video.
Organisers anticipate that it will reach the largest global audience in the prize’s history, with the broadcast available in more than 40 languages across 240 countries.
Last week, William began the countdown to the event by playing cricket in The Mall in Mumbai on November 17, joining cricketing legends from Britain and India.
The upcoming gathering is another opportunity for the prince to promote the environmental initiative and showcase the people working to develop solutions that can be adopted on a larger scale.
William Becomes the First Royal to Appear on The Graham Norton Show
William’s appearance also marks a notable moment in the relationship between the Royal Family and British television.
He is the first member of the Royal Family to appear on The Graham Norton Show, although other senior royals have previously taken part in chat-show interviews.
Princess Anne appeared on the late Sir Terry Wogan’s programme in 1985. During the interview, she joked that if the monarchy were abolished, she would work even harder on the farm at Gatcombe Park, her private country estate and working farm.
Anne also discussed her experience as a farmer’s wife, revealed that she and her husband held Heavy Goods Vehicle licences, spoke about her position within the British Olympic Association and explained why she had chosen royal duties over university.
The following year, Prince Philip appeared on the programme and discussed his interest in carriage-driving, questioned why more people did not play polo and spoke about the upcoming wedding of his son, then-Prince Andrew, and Sarah Ferguson.
William’s appearance represents a different kind of royal television moment, combining discussion of his official responsibilities with a more informal conversation about entertainment, family life and personal interests.
The Prince and Princess of Wales’s official Instagram account had offered a preview of the surprise by sharing a photograph of William sitting on Norton’s famous sofa.
During the episode, William also joined Norton in judging which guest should be sent off the programme’s famous Big Red Chair, the segment in which participants share amusing stories at the risk of being tipped backwards if their tales fail to entertain.
The Appearance Comes Days After Prince Harry’s Interview
William’s television debut also follows a week of renewed attention on the wider Royal Family, after his estranged brother, Prince Harry, appeared in an interview with GQ.
In the 42-minute conversation, Harry said that reconciliation with his family was “the most important thing” to him. However, in comments that appeared to refer to the difficulties surrounding a potential reunion, he added that “some people don’t want it to work out”.
The release of Harry’s interview prompted accusations that the video had overshadowed an important day for the Royal Family, when members welcomed the Sultan of Oman to Windsor.
There was no immediate indication in the early publicity materials for William’s Graham Norton Show appearance that he addressed his brother’s comments.
Instead, the programme placed the spotlight primarily on William’s environmental work, alongside lighter discussions about his family, his favourite films and the career he might have pursued under different circumstances.
For viewers accustomed to seeing the prince at official engagements, the appearance offered a more informal look at the man behind the royal role, while keeping the Earthshot Prize and its global ambitions firmly at the centre of the conversation.