Chat show host Graham Norton has called efforts made by celebrities and the super rich to reduce their tax bill as "stupid" and "short-sighted".

In an interview with The Daily Mail, Norton said that he does not understand "the not paying tax thing". He claimed that he was told by financial advisors ways he himself could reduce his tax bill but refused to partake.

"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."

He went on to say rich celebrities "would be just as rich if they paid the tax - and would be living in a much nicer country", adding that tax paid that went toward reducing crime rates and improving healthcare , housing and education would be more beneficial to them than a smaller tax bill.

It was revealed recently that he is paid between £600,000 (€675,000) and £609,000 (€686,000) a year by the BBC, however the chat show host told The Daily Mail that he did not "spend wildly".

The new series of The Graham Norton Show begins on BBC One on Friday at 10:35pm.