---
name: "Steve Smith"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/steve-smith-26204"
fi1m_id: "steve-smith-26204"
imdb_id: "nm0810026"
tmdb_id: 26204
roles: ["Director"]
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "director"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-10-07T16:33:39.509426+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Steve Smith

## Identity

Steve Smith

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/steve-smith-26204
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** steve-smith-26204
- **IMDb ID:** nm0810026
- **TMDB ID:** 26204
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0810026/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/26204

Director.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Elsewhere:** https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0810026/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/26204

## Streaming the US now

- **AMC+:** [*The Graham Norton Show*](https://film.one/tv/the-graham-norton-show.md) (82)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Steve Smith

> Steve Smith helps make studio television feel unforced, giving a host room to listen and a conversation time to develop. We rate the unobtrusive work on *The Graham Norton Show*, while keeping its achievement firmly shared.

On *The Graham Norton Show* (2007), the host has room to listen without every exchange having to justify itself immediately. Steve Smith helps make that happen, and we recommend the result for its easy company. We relaxed watching Norton because the conversations were allowed to develop without an obvious hurry to reach the next point. The reservation is that such comfortable company leaves little room for friction.

Smith came to studio directing after working as an editor and assistant editor, and has specialised in multi-camera comedy and entertainment. His association with Norton began with the pilot of *So Graham Norton* (1998), well before the programme we have reviewed. He also co-directed *Ali G, Innit* (1999) and *Ali G, Aiii* (2000) with James Bobin. Later came launch-directing work on *A League of Their Own* (2010). He remained a primary director of *The Graham Norton Show* through 2021, directing more than 300 episodes.

The Norton programme makes clear why we should be careful about handing one director all the credit. Toby Baker shares the directing credits, while editors Perry Widdowson and Jon Magnusson help the exchanges feel unforced. Rob Colley’s writing credit also reminds us that this apparently casual television takes preparation. Their work succeeds because we notice Norton’s handling of people before we notice how the programme has been put together.

We would not ask Smith to manufacture awkwardness simply to make his direction more noticeable. But there are limits to what this sort of unobtrusive work can achieve when the format prizes comfort. A conversation can proceed smoothly without telling us much, and the direction cannot settle that problem by itself. Choose *The Graham Norton Show* for an evening of agreeable company; go elsewhere if the pleasure depends on watching someone being put on the spot.

## Biography

Steve Smith is a British television director. He has directed numerous entertainment programmes and is best known for his long association with Graham Norton, directing *So Graham Norton* (1998–1999) and *The Graham Norton Show* (2007–2021).

His other credits include *Da Ali G Show*, *Dirty Tricks* (2005), *Science Club* (2012–2013) and *Blind Date* (2017–2018). Smith has won three BAFTA awards.

*Sources: imdb.com, comedy.co.uk.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *The Graham Norton Show* (2007), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-graham-norton-show.md)

## Complete filmography (5)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Science of Doctor Who* (2013), Director
- *The Very Best of They Think It's All Over* (2005), Director
- *The Best of So Graham Norton* (2004), Director
- *Ali G, Aiii* (2000), Director
- *Ali G, Innit* (1999), Director

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/steve-smith-26204