Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Ashleigh Rainbird

Graham Norton recalls Liza Minnelli's wild wedding with Michael Jackson eating alone

Graham Norton could probably perform an entire stand-up routine about one topic: Liza Minnelli and David Gest ’s wedding.

The TV host was one of many famous faces at the 2002 nuptials in New York, with a congregation that included Donald Trump and Sir Anthony Hopkins, to name but a few.

“They had been on the show to promote a gig Liza was doing at the Albert Hall,” recalls Graham.

“They gave me this gold envelope and I thought it was tickets for the show but it was an invitation to their wedding. It was good, as you would imagine.”

Graham continued: “Dame Elizabeth Taylor was bridesmaid, but Liz arrived at the church having forgotten her shoes. Now earrings and a handbag, maybe, but hard to forget your shoes.”

Liza Minnelli and David Gest had an interesting wedding (Reuters)
Graham Norton was one of many famous faces at the 2002 nuptials in New York (Getty Images for Paramount+)

And despite a room full of A-Listers, one guest really stood out from the crowd, by trying to remain private.

“The reception people were sitting at big round tables except for one table and it was surrounded by security guards all facing out,” says Graham.

“On that table by himself was Michael Jackson all alone, eating.

Michael Jackson ate alone according to Graham (AFP/Getty Images)
Elizabeth Hurley forgot her shoes (Getty Images for Ferrero Deutsch)

“He also made the shortest best man’s speech I have ever heard – I am not sure he said both their names. He just sat there.”

The couple split a year later, suing each other before agreeing an amicable divorce.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.