Not many people can say they’ve starred in a Taylor Swift music video – but Graham Norton can. During a conversation with actress Maria McErlane on the Wanging On podcast, the Irish chat show host reflected on working with Swift for her newly-released “Opalite” music video. 

“It was like a movie shoot, a massive, massive deal,” said Norton of filming the star-studded visual at the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon, south London, towards the end of 2025. “Everyone was lovely on set, it was a really, really fun experience.”

Featuring appearances from actors Domhnall Gleeson, Cillian Murphy, Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith, plus singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi, the video serves as a call-back to a Graham Norton Show appearance in October featuring Swift and the rest of the “Opalite” cast. During the episode, Gleeson expressed his desire to one day be in a Swift music video.

Introducing the video via an Instagram post, Swift called Norton “insanely charismatic and lovable” and said of the October show: “I remember thinking I got ridiculously lucky with the group I was paired with … I was instantly struck with an idea.” Produced with a retro 90s aesthetic, “Opalite” was also written and directed by Swift.

“The whole thing came to her in a blinding flash while she was on the [Graham Norton Show] sofa,” said Norton. “The next thing you know, she’s written this whole treatment. Taylor is a marvelous director. Her ability to not get stressed is extraordinary.”

The video premiered exclusively on Spotify and Apple Music on Friday (Feb. 6), ahead of a wider release on YouTube over the weekend. It comes four months after Swift released her The Life of a Showgirl album, the Billboard 200 chart-topper that debuted at No. 1 following its Oct. 3 release and spent a total of 12 weeks at the summit. In the U.K., the record became her 14th No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart.

According to the Official U.K. Singles Chart midweeks, published Sunday (Feb. 8), “Opalite” is on course to become Swift’s eighth U.K. No. 1 single. If it hits the top spot, it will mark the first time any of Swift’s albums have produced two U.K. No. 1 hits; The Life of a Showgirl’s lead single “The Fate of Ophelia” spent seven non-consecutive weeks atop the chart in 2025.

During the latest episode of Wanging On, Norton also discussed how he is “so in awe” of himself for keeping news of the “Opalite” shoot secret, which took place towards the end of last year. “We filmed the video in the back end of November and I’m like, ‘Please release the video so I can tell someone I’m in it,” he explained. “On New Year’s Eve, I was with a gaggle of gays and I just thought, ‘This is so good, surely I can tell them… but I didn’t.”

Swift has appeared several times on The Graham Norton Show over the years as a guest to promote her music, including visits during the Midnights, Lover and Red eras.