Rod Stewart compared to 'Love Actually' character after 'Graham Norton Show' performance

Rod Stewart has been compared to Billy Mack from 'Love Actually'. (Matt Crossick/PA Images via Getty Images/Universal)
Rod Stewart has been compared to Billy Mack from 'Love Actually'. (Matt Crossick/PA Images via Getty Images/Universal)

Sir Rod Stewart has been compared to Love Actually character Billy Mack after his performance on Friday's episode of The Graham Norton Show.

The 76-year-old rocker took to the stage to sing his new track One More Time, wearing a black jacket in front of a selection of dancing women.

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Reviews of the performance on Twitter were scathing, with many referring to Stewart's rendition of the song as "embarrassing" and one stating it was "hysterically bad".

Many social media users noted apparent similarities with Love Actually and the music video for the terrible festive single Christmas Is All Around, performed by Bill Nighy's loathsome, fading star.

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"Why is Rod Stewart’s performance giving me creepy Love Actually vibes?" asked one Twitter poster, while another said the performance was "giving me very Love Actually vibes — and that's not a good thing".

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"It was hysterically bad," wrote another viewer, adding: "Think Love Actually but way more embarrassing."

Stewart appeared on Graham Norton's sofa to promote his recently released 32nd studio album The Tears of Hercules.

He explained to Norton that the project was born as a result of lockdown, which gave him a lot of time to think and write songs for the new record.

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If he truly is the second coming of Billy Mack, then Stewart will definitely have his eye on the race for the Christmas number one spot.

To manage that, he'd have to fight off a duet by Ed Sheeran and Elton John — the current bookies' favourite — and an attempt by social media stars LadBaby to make it four years in a row.

Watch: Hugh Grant says he can't remember what happened in Love Actually