GRAHAM Norton has confessed he aspires to the no-holds-barred gay lifestyle of George Michael - but lacks the courage. The TV star admitted the singer is "living the life I'd like to live but I don't have the nerve". Michael was recently caught cruising on north London's Hampstead Heath and has been found slumped in his car for the second time this week.

But Norton, 43, said he would hate to appear in newspapers "having to justify my lifestyle". He added: "He's very eloquent. He will sit in a chair talking about going out cruising. I wouldn't want to be him and I feel sorry for him. But I do think he's humanising something that has been demonised."

Norton also confessed he has "tried lots of drugs" but rarely touches them now. He said: "To me, coke is middle-age stuff. It's quite slow."

Nice of a fellow gay man to stand up and say something. Now, when is Elton standing up (again) to say "You can fuck without drugs, George. After all, do you really need to take anything that increases your libido, George? Honestly?"