Graham Norton isn’t short of a bob or two... as the BBC’s third highest-earning star it’s no surprise.

But when his salary was cut by £200,000 following last year’s gender pay gap row, the genial chat show host could easily have started thinking about ways to cut his tax bill.

One of those investment schemes that give stars a hefty break, perhaps?

Not a chance it seems. “I just don’t get the not-paying tax thing,” he says, dispatching the idea as swiftly as one of the victims of his red ejector chair.

“It’s just stupid and very short sighted.

“You see people who are worth a billion and they’re still doing tax dodges and you think how can you be bothered?

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"These people who go to incredible lengths to dodge tax would be just as rich if they paid the tax - and would be living in a much nicer country.

“One where people were looked after, were crime was less, where housing was better and people were better educated.

"So the money you’ve saved on tax, you’re probably having to use to pay for barbed wire around your property. It seems totally wrong-headed.”

Graham, still on £600,000 plus, goes on: “I don’t spend wildly. And life with money is much better than life without money, for sure. But being able to afford your tax is such a privileged position.

“I don’t like getting my tax bill - it still takes my breath away. But I know I can still pay my bills after I’d paid tax at the other end.

“The people who can’t afford to pay their bills have got no possibility of dodging it.

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“So, I do think, ‘To all those huge Philip Greens - pay tax, You’ll be living in a much nicer country.”

The star, 55, has been approached by financial advisors touting tax avoidance schemes like those that caught out comic Jimmy Carr and pop star Gary Barlow.

“I’ve been offered those things,” he says. “Your bank tells you about this film you can invest in and you think ‘Oh it would be great to invest in a film and also get a tax break at the same time.’

“But then you listen for five minutes and you realise, these are the film’s producers and they’re telling you the film mustn’t make money or even be released and you’re like ‘This isn’t a good thing’, so you don’t do it. Because it’s an obvious dodge.

“I’d love to help British film but this wasn’t going to help anybody.”

Graham is certainly helping British TV prosper though as he prepares for the new series of his hugely successful chat show, which starts again tonight.

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Because his relaxed, cheeky style - and the booze he plies his guests with - attracts the shiniest Hollywood A-listers to his sofa.

Like tonight’s headliner, actor Ryan Gosling.

“I’m glad Ryan is on the first episode of the new season,” beams Graham. “Now THERE is a man who could be Irish. He can really tell a story.”

Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Jodie Whittaker and Rod Stewart complete the line-up.

Graham adds: “Big stars like Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep keep coming back because they realise it’ll be fine and they might actually have fun.

“It took us a long time, but the stars’ publicists now trust us and tell their clients to come on the show because we’ll just want them to tell some funny stories.”

But Graham does still have a wish list of dream guests - which includes Meghan and Harry. He has turned down lots of big names too... including shamed film boss Harvey Weinstein.

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The mogul, who faces sexual assault and rape allegations, tried to force his way onto Graham’s sofa.

“Harvey got my personal email address somehow and had a specific date in mind,” says Graham. But the show was fully booked. I said, ‘Oh, Harvey, thanks so much, but I’m so sorry we can’t fit you in that day. Bye.’

"He emailed back as if I had never sent my email, going, ‘So I thought when I came on the show I could chat about this or that.’

“Again I told him he couldn’t come on that night, and another email came back pretending that had never happened. Obviously, this is how he operates.

"He didn’t even hear no as an answer, which made him a very successful producer but clearly an awful human being.

But he added: “So many of his films were amazing and told really important stories, so it would be a shame if those films weren’t seen again.

“But he was also this monster. He may be banished from Hollywood but he doesn’t diminish the work of the actors and directors who made those films.

"These men have such a sense of entitlement, of ‘Who wouldn’t want to sleep with me?’ and it’s like ‘Well, most of the people you are sleeping with wouldn’t want to, that’s who.’

Graham is currently single after several long-term relationships, but enjoying life.

Last year he admitted: “I’ve failed all my relationship exams, but you’re far better off enjoying the life you’re living than mourning the life you’re not.”

He added: “If you want someone to share your life, look like you have fun.”

So for now he is devoted to the chat show he loves after a stint at his second home in West Cork, smiling: “It’s hard to get my head around the fact I’ve hosted a chat show for 21 years. I never thought it would last this long.”