Viewers tuning in to The Graham Norton Show on Friday, January 6 were shocked to see that the Irish host included a reference to Wales during his iconic opening link. The presenter, 59, introduced his BBC show by detailing which guests he had joining him before then saying that he also had “one excited Welsh woman in the audience”.
As soon as he finished speaking, the woman leapt to her feet and excitedly shouted, “Iechyd da”, meaning "good health" or "cheers". The woman in question was 24-year-old Geri McNamara, who is from Cwmbran. Recalling the surprising moment, Geri told WalesOnline: “It was really random. They just needed a Welsh person and I was already there for the audience. One of the runners came up to a few people in the waiting pen and they were initially talking to an Irish group and they asked whether they happened to be Welsh. Then I turned around and told them where I’m from. It just went from there.”
Read more: Graham Norton spoiled Liverpool Eurovision surprise with card gaffe
“It was really cute to be fair,” added Geri, who is currently studying to be an actor at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She continued: “They took me into the studio and mic’d me up. I had a little chat with Graham about drama school and it was great. The choosing of it was so random.”
This wouldn’t be Geri’s first appearance on TV, though. Prior to studying at LAMDA, she worked as a presenter at the local TV channel Cardiff TV. She is currently in her second year of drama school and aspires to be an actor. Geri also described how she is currently learning Welsh during night classes.
As to why she wanted to follow that career path, Geri said: “I love acting. Whilst watching Graham Norton, actress Sophie Okonedo summed up why the profession is so good. She described how, being in a live studio, the audience and actors go through something at the same time and that feeling is unbeatable.” Geri added that the reason she went to watch the show in the first place was because everyone due on the sofa was an actor that episode.
Following her surprise cameo on The Graham Norton Show, Geri said that numerous people have been in touch with her. “I literally had random people that I hadn’t spoken to in ages be like, ‘Did I just see you on Graham Norton?’ Honestly, it was actually the funniest thing in the world. What are the chances of that?” Catch this week’s episode of The Graham Norton Show on BBC iPlayer. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
ITV This Morning viewers want their 'queen' Alison Hammond as the show's permanent presenter
Love Island star Jack Fowler shares scary moment he suffered allergic reaction on flight
The Masked Singer viewers in shock as judges fail to spot 'most obvious ever' celebrity
Helen Skelton's ex-husband Richie Myler deletes Instagram after explosive post
