In terms of television, in terms of popular culture, America is where it's at

Graham Norton

The cable and satellite service is drafting in the camp Irishman to headline a new comedy line-up dubbed So Friday Night.

Norton says he is thrilled to be taking on the US.

'Regular folk'

"I'm very excited about the show being in America - I love America so it would make me very happy if I thought Americans found the show funny."

But he adds: "It's a sort of wait and see type of thing. I know American guests like the show - they enjoy it so hopefully regular folk will as well."

Norton says he has always been a fan of American television. As a child growing up in Ireland it was the most exciting thing on the small screen.

"Our big cultural influences came from America rather than Britain even though we're so close to Britain," he explains.

"We looked to America much more in terms of TV and music and movies. When you watched British television it looked a bit like Ireland. It was quite dull - dead hedge rows and fields.

"But then you saw American shows and it was all very exciting and fast cars and you could park anywhere - it was brilliant."

'Popular culture'

BBC America broadcasts a mix of what it describes as the best of British television. So Graham Norton is being added to the Friday night schedule along with shows like Absolutely Fabulous and Coupling.

I think it's sort of filthy - but innocently filthy, innocent fun

Graham Norton

Norton, who has been promoting the show at the Television Critics Association meeting in Pasadena, California, says it is a challenge to be part of the world's biggest TV market.

"In terms of television, in terms of popular culture, America is where it's at. They lead the world," he says.

He explains that much of the show's success is down to the fact that many of the guests are American.

"It's because they are the biggest stars - if you're big here you're big anywhere."

Irreverent style

American TV audiences are traditionally conservative. Only recently have gay characters and personalities become accepted on prime time shows.

Norton says he does not expect his irreverent style to turn off US viewers.

"The show sounds outrageous if you talk it through - if you were to describe to people some of the things we do - but when you watch it we're just like kids who have found something at the back of our parents closet and we're having a laugh.

"I think it's sort of filthy - but innocently filthy, innocent fun."

So far there have been about 60 So Graham Norton shows in Britain - but they will not all be screened in the US.

The programmes will, according to Norton, be "cherry-picked" to feature the ones with the biggest stars that most Americans are likely to know.

However, he insists the shows will not be edited to cut out cultural references with which Americans may be unfamiliar.

As Norton waits to see whether he will follow in the footsteps of Anne Robinson and become a household name in America, he reveals that one day he would like to make a film.

But he adds: "Who doesn't? Everyone wants to be in a movie - everyone's accepted an Oscar in front of the bathroom mirror."