On tonight’s show (25th November), Graham welcomes former James Bond Daniel Craig, singer, presenter and Strictly contestant, Fleur East, BBC newsman and Mastermind host Clive Myrie, acting great Sir Ian McKellen, top comic John Bishop, and American singer songwriter Charlie Puth.
Daniel Craig jokes about his accent in Knives Out, Fleur East says Strictly has been a blessing for her marriage, Clive Myrie reveals his worries about Mastermind, Sir Ian McKellen and John Bishop talk panto, and Charlie Puth performs live in the studio.
Daniel, talking about his new movie Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and asked about his character’s accent, says, “There was a very small stage direction in the script that said Benoir Blanc has a subtle, lilting southern accent, which I clearly flatly ignored!”
Asked about Angela Lansbury’s cameo in the movie, he says, “It was her very last screen performance. She was so game. I was a fan – Bedknobs and Broomsticks is still one of my favourite movies.”
Talking about leaving one big movie franchise for another, and asked if there will be more Knives Out films, he says, “Rian (Johnson) and I talk about it all the time and we will make them as long as people laugh and enjoy them, and we will walk away when they don’t.”
Fleur, talking about Strictly and her perfect scores in Blackpool, says, “It is the most iconic week of the show and to get there and score so well was incredible, especially as it has been rough being in the dance off twice and having lots of harsh criticism.”
Asked about the ‘Strictly curse’, she says, “The show’s been a blessing for my marriage, it’s been great. We’ve been together for 12 years and how often in your marriage do you dress up and look different every week, and get to do all these sexy dances in front of your husband? After the Argentine tango it was like we got married again! It was wonderful.”
Clive, talking about covering the war in Ukraine, says, “I was asked to go and I thought to myself, ‘I’ve never been and he’s not going to invade so why not?’ We landed and had a lovely lunch, it was sunny and people were about and then between the 6pm and 10pm news bulletins the atmosphere changed entirely and at 2.30am he invaded. It was extraordinary.”
Asked about hosting Mastermind, and asked if he was worried about his reputation in stepping away from serious journalism, he says, “That’s not what I worried about because it’s always good to show people that you are not a robotic news reader. I was worried about was following in the footsteps of John Humphrys and Magnus Magnusson, talents of broadcasting – that was the concern.”
Ian and John join Graham to chat about starring together in Mother Goose.
Ian, talking about playing the lead, says, “I wanted to play a dame once more and Mother Goose is a great part for a dame because it is the centre of the story.
“When I was a kid pantos started on Boxing Day and continued until Easter and they also used to tour so I thought if we put that together we would see if it worked. It really is a passion project and I love it, and I am in love with John Bishop!
John, talking about playing Ian’s first ever stage husband, and asked if, as a stand-up, it is difficult sharing the limelight, says, “I’m doing it, as everyone else is doing it, for the chance to work with Ian.”
Talking about the pantomime, John says, “It’s not about Christmas, it’s about fame, money and chasing your dreams, and realising they are not the same. Mixed in with that are some rude gags and singing!”
Charlie performs his new single Loser, before joining Graham for a chat.
Talking about how every day sounds inspire him, he says, “Music can be made from anything,” before demonstrating how the bleeping of a car’s ignition can create new music including his version of the Mastermind theme tune.
And finally, Graham pulls the lever on more foolhardy audience members brave enough sit in the world famous red chair to tell their funniest stories.
The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday 25th November, 10.40pm. Also
available on BBC iPlayer.
Notes to editors – All quotes in this release were made during the recording of the show but won’t necessarily appear in the final version.
Next week (2nd December) Graham’s guests include George Takei, Jamie Oliver, Claudia Winkleman, and First Aid Kit
For further information please contact Mary Collins 07769 670516 or at mary@marycollins-pr.com
24th November 2022
