Graham Norton doesn't regret not having children as he wouldn't have been a 'good dad'

Graham Norton has no regrets about not having kids and says he wouldn’t be very good at parenting.

The comedian, 59, who married Scottish filmmaker Jonathan McLeod in West Cork this year, said: "There were times in my life when I thought, 'Should I be a dad?' But ultimately I think it's good that I don’t have children.

"I think I wouldn't be a very good father. I don’t think I have the patience or the interest. Maybe it would be different if I had an actual child... but I suspect not."

The chat show host also said he is surprised still to be feeling "vibrant and alive" as he approaches his 60th birthday in April.

Graham Norton has spoken about his decision to not have any children (Corbis via Getty Images)

He suggested that he wouldn't have been a 'good father' (Getty Images for Paramount+)

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He said: "I don’t feel ready to sit in a rocking chair and stare at the sunset. At the same time, you have to go, 'Wow, there's less of this life than there was,' and I think you have to make decisions in a different way."

Asked if his decision to marry played a part in that, he joked: "It certainly meant 'till death do us part' seemed more achievable."

Graham believes one thing he has improved at as he has got older is spotting "destructive, negative patterns" that emerge in his life.

Speaking to The Australian Women's Weekly magazine, he added: "I would just say, hopefully I’m not making as many of the same mistakes. Hopefully I’ve spotted some patterns in my life and have tried to iron them out."

The presenter said he had considered becoming a parent at times in his life (AFP/Getty Images)

Graham says he drinks "a lot less" than he used to, but hasn’t completely given up and still counts it as one of his "great pleasures".

He added: "It’s a weird thing to talk about because it is a personal relationship with alcohol, and you don’t want to sound preachy or judgey."

He explained: "I suppose I’m not a heavy drinker any more – I’m a slightly lighter drinker. Seven o’clock, having a something and tonic is a lovely thing."

He added that one reason to cut down on drinking is "so that I can have that pleasure for longer".

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