NEW TODAY | OCTOBER 23, 2026
Prince William has made a surprise appearance on The Graham Norton Show, taking a seat on its famous red sofa for a special edition devoted to the Earthshot Prize. The appearance is being reported as a royal first for the BBC chat show and will air in the United Kingdom on Friday, October 23.
Kensington Palace announced the program early Friday through a post shared by the official Prince and Princess of Wales and Earthshot Prize Instagram accounts. The Palace said the episode will air on BBC One at 10:40 p.m. UK time.
William brings Earthshot to the red sofa
According to The Independent, the studio audience gasped when the Prince of Wales joined Cate Blanchett, Hannah Waddingham and Robert Irwin. All three have ties to Earthshot: Blanchett serves on the Prize Council, Waddingham hosted the 2023 awards and Irwin is a global ambassador.
The conversation centered on why William created the environmental prize and how it helps promising ideas grow. He explained that years of hearing environmental stories framed through negativity left him wanting a more hopeful approach, one that could pair urgency with optimism. His concise message for the audience was: “It’s all about getting excited.”
What to know before the episode airs
| UK broadcast | Friday, October 23, at 10:40 p.m. on BBC One |
|---|---|
| Royal guest | Prince William, in a first for the long-running show |
| Earthshot guests | Cate Blanchett, Hannah Waddingham and Robert Irwin |
| Music | Jorja Smith performs in the studio |
| U.S. availability | No U.S. broadcaster or streaming plan was announced in the sources reviewed at publication time |
A lighter setting for a serious mission
The red sofa also gave William room to show a more relaxed side. Reporting from the recording says he spoke about watching Celebrity Traitors and recalled that, as a boy, he once imagined becoming either a police officer or a DJ.
Still, the environmental message remained at the center of the appearance. The Earthshot Prize is approaching the midpoint of its ten-year mission to identify and help scale practical solutions to the planet’s most urgent challenges. Its next awards ceremony will be held in Mumbai in November, with five winners sharing £5 million in prize funding.
For William, appearing in a familiar entertainment format offers something the monarchy’s formal engagements cannot always provide: a chance to carry Earthshot’s hopeful message to viewers who may not follow environmental conferences or royal speeches. We will update this story if the broadcast produces substantial new remarks or U.S. viewing information.
What’s your take? Does a relaxed television interview help royal causes reach a wider audience? No login required.
