Ellen DeGeneres has made a rare return to television, appearing on The Graham Norton Show for a relaxed conversation about her life away from the spotlight, her memories of hosting a daily talk show and the possibility of launching a new television project in the United Kingdom.
The comedian and former talk-show host appeared on the British programme alongside filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, actor Colin Farrell and actress Gemma Chan. During the conversation, DeGeneres reflected on the aspects of her former television career that she misses most, including spending time with her writers, welcoming celebrity guests and sharing spontaneous moments of comedy.
She also joked about how easy it seemed to get an appearance on British television, suggesting that she might even create her own programme in the country. Her comments included a humorous idea for a show about someone becoming distracted while mowing the lawn, which she jokingly titled Lawn and Order.
The appearance marks a notable television moment for DeGeneres, who stepped away from her long-running daytime talk show in 2022 after 19 seasons. Although she has occasionally appeared in public and discussed her life since then, she has largely maintained a lower profile compared with the years when her daily programme was a major part of American television.
Her latest interview also comes after she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, relocated to the United Kingdom following the 2024 U.S. presidential election. DeGeneres has previously discussed the couple’s decision to move abroad and expressed concerns about the political climate in the United States.
While she did not announce a confirmed new television project during the interview, her playful remarks about British broadcasting have prompted renewed interest in whether she could return to television in a different format.
Ellen DeGeneres Returns to Television on The Graham Norton Show
DeGeneres appeared on The Graham Norton Show, the popular British chat programme hosted by Graham Norton. Known for bringing together several celebrities on one sofa, the show provides an informal setting for conversations, personal stories and humorous exchanges.
During her appearance, DeGeneres discussed what life has been like since leaving the daily television schedule that defined much of her professional career.
Her comments suggested that stepping away from a regular programme did not mean she had stopped appreciating the creative and social aspects of television. Instead, she described missing several everyday experiences that came with hosting her own show.
Among the things she recalled were laughing with the writers, meeting guests and sharing the spontaneous interactions that often became memorable moments for viewers.
She also made a playful reference to Colin Farrell, who was among the guests on the programme. Recalling their recurring comic interaction on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she joked that she missed kissing him.
The remark was delivered in the humorous spirit associated with her former programme, where celebrity interactions and lighthearted exchanges frequently became part of the entertainment.
The interview offered audiences an opportunity to see DeGeneres in a television setting again without the structure of her own daily talk show.
Rather than presenting a major career announcement, the appearance centred on conversation, comedy and reflections on her life away from the demanding routine of producing a regular daytime programme.
For longtime viewers, it was also a reminder of the format that helped make DeGeneres a familiar television personality for nearly two decades.
Ellen Jokes About How Easy It Is to Get on British Television
One of the most entertaining parts of the interview came when DeGeneres discussed the apparent accessibility of British television.
She joked directly to Norton that she had simply called the programme and asked whether she could sit on the sofa despite having nothing to promote. According to her humorous retelling, the response was an enthusiastic invitation.
Her comment played on the contrast between celebrity appearances designed to promote a film, television series, book or other project and interviews that exist primarily for conversation and entertainment.
DeGeneres suggested that British television offered plenty of unusual programme concepts, mentioning shows involving activities such as sewing and pottery, as well as programmes in which people watch television.
Her remarks were not a formal assessment of the British broadcasting industry. Instead, they formed part of a comedy routine about how seemingly ordinary activities can become the focus of television programmes.
She then suggested that she could develop a show centred on zoning out while mowing the lawn.
The proposed title, Lawn and Order, was a playful reference to the long-running crime franchise Law & Order. The joke transformed an ordinary household activity into a fictional television concept with a familiar-sounding name.
The idea reflected DeGeneres’ ability to build humour around everyday experiences. Rather than describing an elaborate competition or dramatic format, she imagined a programme based on something many people do without thinking very much about it.
Although the comments were clearly made in jest, they also raised an interesting question: could DeGeneres eventually explore a new kind of television project in the United Kingdom?
No confirmed programme was announced during the appearance, and her comments should not be interpreted as evidence that a new show is currently in development.
Nevertheless, her willingness to joke about the possibility suggests that she remains comfortable discussing television, even after leaving her own daily programme behind.
What Ellen DeGeneres Misses About Her Former Talk Show
DeGeneres ended The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2022 after 19 seasons, concluding a major chapter of her career.
The programme became one of the best-known daytime talk shows in the United States, combining celebrity interviews, comedy, audience participation, games and human-interest stories.
For many viewers, DeGeneres’ on-screen personality became closely associated with the show’s upbeat presentation and recurring catchphrases. The programme also featured surprise appearances, musical performances and segments that frequently circulated online.
During her appearance on Norton’s programme, DeGeneres identified the creative relationships behind the scenes as an important part of what she missed.
She recalled laughing with the writers, meeting guests and enjoying the spontaneous moments that emerged during production.
Daily television can involve an intense schedule. A talk-show host must work with writers, producers, researchers, booking teams and technical staff to prepare episodes, coordinate interviews and maintain a consistent production rhythm.
Although the final broadcast is what audiences see, the working environment behind the camera can play a significant role in shaping the experience of hosting a programme.
DeGeneres’ remarks suggested that her memories were not limited to the attention or public recognition associated with being a television star. She also remembered the people and routines that made the work enjoyable.
Her reference to Farrell highlighted another part of the show’s appeal: the informal relationships that developed through repeated celebrity appearances.
Such moments helped distinguish a talk show from a more conventional interview programme. Recurring jokes and familiar interactions gave viewers a sense of continuity, even when the guests changed from one episode to the next.
The fact that DeGeneres still recalls these aspects of the job offers insight into what she valued about her television career.
However, missing parts of a former job does not necessarily mean she plans to return to the same format. Her latest appearance may simply have provided an opportunity to reflect on a period that occupied a substantial portion of her professional life.
The Ellen DeGeneres Show Ended in 2022
For 19 seasons, The Ellen DeGeneres Show was a prominent fixture of American daytime television.
The programme featured celebrity interviews, comedy segments, audience games and stories about individuals whose experiences attracted public attention. Its accessible style helped it develop a large audience and become a familiar part of the daytime entertainment landscape.
DeGeneres’ career extended well beyond the talk show. She had already established herself as a stand-up comedian and actress before becoming a daytime television host. She also became known to younger audiences through voice work, including her role as Dory in Pixar’s Finding Nemo and Finding Dory.
Her television programme nevertheless became one of the defining parts of her public identity.
Its conclusion in 2022 marked the end of a long-running format that had shaped her daily working life for almost two decades.
The decision to end the programme came after years of success but also a period of controversy surrounding allegations about the show’s workplace culture.
In 2020, reports and allegations emerged describing a difficult working environment behind the scenes. The allegations prompted public scrutiny of the programme and its management.
DeGeneres apologised amid the controversy and addressed the situation publicly. The issue became a significant part of the show’s later history and affected the way some viewers discussed her career.
It is important to distinguish those workplace allegations and the responses to them from the entertainment content that originally made the programme popular. Both form part of the broader story of the show’s legacy.
The programme continued before concluding in 2022, after which DeGeneres no longer maintained the same daily presence on television.
Her latest appearance on The Graham Norton Show offers a reminder of her long association with television while also highlighting how much her public life has changed since the daytime programme ended.
The Workplace Controversy That Changed the Conversation
The controversy surrounding The Ellen DeGeneres Show became a major public discussion in 2020.
Former employees and others associated with the production raised concerns about the workplace environment. The allegations included claims about how staff members were treated and whether the culture behind the scenes matched the programme’s public image.
The reports attracted widespread attention because DeGeneres’ television persona had long been associated with kindness, positivity and the encouragement of others.
The contrast between that public image and the allegations led to questions about the responsibilities of people in positions of power within the entertainment industry.
DeGeneres apologised amid the controversy and addressed concerns about the workplace. The situation also prompted broader conversations about the difference between a programme’s on-screen identity and the experiences of people who work behind the scenes.
The programme’s end in 2022 followed a career period in which the host’s reputation had been the subject of intense public discussion.
Her latest appearance does not erase that history, nor does it necessarily indicate that she intends to return to the same type of television career.
Instead, it provides a glimpse into her life after the daily programme and shows that she remains willing to participate in public conversations about her time in entertainment.
For viewers, the interview offers a chance to consider both the achievements and controversies associated with a television career that lasted for decades.
Why Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi Moved to the United Kingdom
Another important part of DeGeneres’ recent life has been her relocation to the United Kingdom with her wife, Portia de Rossi.
The couple moved following the 2024 U.S. presidential election. DeGeneres later discussed their decision during an appearance before an audience at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, England, in July 2025.
She described arriving in the country shortly before the election and waking up to messages from friends after the result became clear.
According to her account, the messages included crying emojis, and the couple realised that Donald Trump had won the election. DeGeneres recalled their reaction as a decision to remain in the United Kingdom.
She has also spoken about concerns regarding the political climate in the United States, including fears about conservative efforts to reverse same-sex marriage protections.
Those concerns formed part of the context she gave for the move.
The decision attracted attention because DeGeneres had spent much of her career working in the United States, where she became a prominent figure in entertainment and LGBTQ+ visibility.
Her relationship with de Rossi has also been a longstanding part of her public life. The couple married in 2008, after California briefly permitted same-sex marriage before Proposition 8 halted new marriages of same-sex couples in the state.
Their relocation does not, by itself, establish that DeGeneres intends to abandon American entertainment permanently. Nor does it confirm that she plans to build a new career in British television.
However, living in the United Kingdom could create opportunities for different projects, particularly if she decides to explore television formats or collaborations based there.
Her remarks to Norton about the ease of appearing on British television may have been humorous, but they also fit into the wider story of her transition away from her former routine in the United States.
Could Ellen DeGeneres Launch a New British Television Show?
DeGeneres’ joke about creating Lawn and Order naturally raises the question of whether she might eventually develop a new programme in the United Kingdom.
Her comments were not an official announcement. She did not reveal a network, production company, schedule or confirmed format for a future show.
Nevertheless, her long experience in entertainment means she has considerable familiarity with television production, comedy writing and celebrity interviews.
A new British programme could look very different from her American daytime talk show. British television includes a broad range of formats, from panel shows and comedy programmes to documentaries, lifestyle series and experimental entertainment.
DeGeneres’ remarks about sewing, pottery and people watching television were a humorous observation about that variety rather than a detailed proposal for her next project.
If she did decide to create a new programme, she could potentially explore a format that suits her current lifestyle and interests rather than reproducing the demands of a daily talk show.
For example, a less frequent interview series or a limited-run comedy programme would offer a different production schedule from a show that requires new episodes throughout the week. However, these are possibilities rather than confirmed plans.
Any future project would depend on her own interest, the availability of collaborators and whether a broadcaster wanted to develop the concept.
For now, the most concrete development is her return to a television interview as a guest, rather than a confirmed comeback as a host.
A Different Chapter for Ellen DeGeneres
DeGeneres’ appearance on The Graham Norton Show provided a rare opportunity to hear her reflect on her life after daytime television.
She spoke fondly about the people and experiences she missed from her former programme, joked about the possibilities of British broadcasting and entertained the idea of a deliberately ordinary show about mowing the lawn.
At the same time, her story remains connected to larger developments in her life, including the end of her 19-season talk show, the workplace controversy that affected its later years and her relocation to the United Kingdom with Portia de Rossi.
The interview did not confirm a new television project, but it demonstrated that DeGeneres remains willing to return to the screen for selected appearances.
For longtime fans, the conversation offered a reminder of her comedic style and the informal exchanges that helped define her former programme.
For others, it provided an opportunity to hear how she views her career after stepping away from a demanding daily format.
Whether she eventually creates a British television show remains to be seen. For now, her appearance on Norton’s programme has brought her back into the television conversation without requiring a full return to the career that once made her a daily presence in millions of homes.
Her comments leave the door open to speculation, but the next chapter of her professional life has yet to be officially announced.