Which long-running British chat show, hosted by an Irish comedian, is famous for its 'red chair' segment where guests recount embarrassing stories before potentially being flipped off?

The British chat show known for its iconic "red chair" segment, where audience members share amusing or embarrassing anecdotes before potentially being flipped backward, is The Graham Norton Show (Review). Hosted by the charismatic Irish comedian Graham Norton, the program has been a staple of British television since its debut on BBC Two in 2007, later moving to BBC One in 2009. Its unique format, which features all celebrity guests on the sofa simultaneously for group conversations rather than individual interviews, sets it apart from many other talk shows.

The "red chair" segment is a beloved, often viral, part of the show where members of the studio audience are invited to sit in a large red armchair and recount a personal story. The catch is that if Graham Norton or his celebrity guests find the story uninteresting, or if the storyteller falters, Norton can pull a lever that tips the chair backward, sending the guest off-screen. This humorous interaction adds an unpredictable and engaging element to the show's closing moments.

Interestingly, the "red chair" segment was initially intended to be a one-off bit for an episode featuring comedian Ronnie Corbett in 2009, inspired by Corbett's own storytelling from an armchair in "The Two Ronnies" sketch show. However, due to the expense of building the prop and the production team's suggestion to reuse it, it quickly became a permanent and highly anticipated fixture. The segment is carefully engineered with specialists to ensure safety, and while many stories make it to air, some may not be included in the final edit, even if the person gets flipped.