Graham Norton Show viewers urge BBC to ‘bring back canned laughter’ for lockdown episodes

‘It’s very weird without an audience,’ one fan wrote

Graham Norton returned to present his BBC chat show as the coronavirus lockdown continued, but viewers noticed one key component that was missing.

The latest episode featured celebrity guests Patrick Stewart, Thandie Newton and Ricky Gervais, who spoke to the host via video link from their respective homes.

While viewers were largely entertained by the interviews, which saw Stewart show off his completed jigsaw puzzles and recite a Shakespeare sonnet, many highlighted how odd the show felt without laughter from the audience.

Norton, just like he does in regular episodes when a studio audience is present, performed an opening joke-filled monologue.

However, without people in the crowd, silence followed each quip.

“We thought we would never say it, but bring back canned laughter,” one viewer wrote.

Another added: “Graham Norton without an audience is very weird​.”

Someone else wrote: “I didn’t think canned laughter was good for anything until Covid-19,” while another sated: “Have just realised what is missing from The Graham Norton Show. Laughter.”

Christine and the Queens provided the evening’s music entertainment.

The Graham Norton Show continues next Friday (18 April) at 9pm.