Prince William Talks Film, Music and Early Ambitions in Surprise BBC Chat Show Appearance

LONDON: Britain’s Prince William spoke about his admiration for the films of Christopher Nolan and his youthful wish to become a DJ in a surprise appearance on a British television chat show, made to promote his annual Earthshot Prize for climate and environmental innovation.

The Prince of Wales, 44, joined guests including actors Cate Blanchett and Hannah Waddingham and conservationist Robert Irwin on the sofa for a special edition of the BBC One programme The Graham Norton Show, which airs on Friday evening. His arrival surprised both the other guests and the studio audience.

Asked how he relaxes, William said his family enjoys watching the reality competition The Celebrity Traitors together, while he personally turns to music and films. He described himself as a big admirer of Nolan’s work, singling out the Dark Knight trilogy for its psychological depth and praising the director’s ability to turn highly unconventional ideas into entertaining films.

The prince also reflected on his childhood ambitions. Before accepting that his future role would be king, he said, he had wanted to become a police officer, and he later went through a phase of wanting to be a DJ, admitting he was not very good at it. He also spoke about his support for Aston Villa football club.

The appearance comes ahead of the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony, to be held in Mumbai, India, in November, where this year’s winners will be announced. William founded the prize and has pledged to support it until 2030.

In recent years, the heir to the throne has made a growing number of appearances in less formal settings, including on BBC Radio 1, one of Britain’s most popular stations among listeners under 30, and on sports podcasts, as part of an effort to reach younger audiences. Royal observers say he has sought to share more of his personal life while keeping discussion of the pressures of public life to a minimum.