Press clippings Page 38
Even before the final instalment of The Twilight Saga - Breaking Dawn, finished shooting, British actor Robert Pattinson had moved on to bigger things.
His co-star in his latest film, which opened this week, is a pretty 600 stone elephant called Tai.
Sadly, Graham Norton's sofa probably won't be large enough for Tai to join him on the show tonight. Instead, he'll have to settle for Robert's other co-star from Water for Elephants - Reese Witherspoon. This is actually the second time the two have worked together, because despite the tiny age gap between them, Robert was actually cast as her son in the 2004 movie Vanity Fair. It was a less than auspicious start to his Hollywood career though because his scenes were eventually cut from the film and can only be seen in the DVD version.
We're sure Graham will be quizzing Robert and Reese on their love scenes together in Water For Elephants.
But the relationship R-Patz fans really want to hear about is, of course, the one with his Twilight co-star and real-life girlfriend Kristen Stewart.
Don't hold back, Graham - we want to hear everything.
Jane Simon, The Mirror, 6th May 2011If you made a movie of Jennifer Hudson's life, critics would say it was too far-fetched to be believable.
We first spotted Jennifer in 2004, getting grief from Simon Cowell about her dress sense on season three of American Idol.
She was eliminated in seventh place in the controversial "Battle Of The Divas".
Undeterred, she went on to become the first reality show contestant to win an Oscar for her show-stopping performance in Dreamgirls and she's recently played Winnie Mandela in a new bio-pic.
But in a tragic flipside to this meteoric success, in 2008 her mother, brother and nephew were all shot dead.
Her sister's estranged husband, William Balfour, is still awaiting trial for their murders. So Graham Norton certainly won't be short of things to chat to Jennifer about on the show tonight.
Alternatively, he could just ask her how she's just lost 80lb with the help of slimming giants WeightWatchers.
Jennifer will also perform the title track from her new album I Remember Me, and she'll be joined on the Norton sofa by singer kd lang as well as musical comedian Bill Bailey.
Jane Simon, The Mirror, 22nd April 2011While we've always not minded Graham Norton, even during his mid-career slump - remember when he was on C4 every minute of the day? - it's only now that we've come to really admire him as a good broadcaster. Perhaps there's something about that 10am R2 slot that makes TV chat show hosts relax and reveal their true selves. It certainly did it for Jonathan Ross all those years ago. Or maybe its just winning on Just A Minute, but now Norton is more mature, more likeable and just downright good.
Tonight, he has David Tennant and his mate, the hilarious comedian Catherine Tate and music from Glee star Josh Groban. Even though this doesn't sound like a whole lot of material to work with - or indeed any good at all - somehow it will end up being very entertaining.
TV Bite, 15th April 2011With a new series of Doctor Who fast approaching, the Telegraph's Graham Norton begins his new run with a vintage Who feel. David Tennant and Catherine Tate, both of whom starred together in a previous Who series, join Norton on the sofa to discuss teaming up again in a new West End production of Shakespeare's As You Like It. Lancaster-born comedian Jon Richardson talks about his tour, and the singer/songwriter Josh Groban promotes his Straight to You tour, before singing songs from his new album, Illuminations.
Clive Morgan, The Telegraph, 14th April 2011Graham Norton may lose Friday slot as part of BBC cuts
Graham Norton's chat show could be booted from its Friday night slot under BBC plans to slash its programming budget after 10.35pm.
The Sun, 23rd March 2011Comedy, music and good causes - it can only be the show that makes you laugh until you give.
Harry Hill, Steve Coogan, Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Ant and Dec and Armstrong and Miller are all doing something funny for money this year, along with the casts of The Inbetweeners, Outnumbered and Miranda.
We can also look forward to a specially shot mini-episode of Doctor Who, and James Corden will be back with the third instalment of his iconic Smithy trilogy - calling in favours from some very big names in showbiz.
Corden will also be one fifth of Fake That - a tribute band which boasts the talents of David Walliams, Alan Carr, Catherine Tate and John Bishop.
Never fear, though, the real Take That will be performing too. In fact, the night's going to be awash with boy-bands, as JLS are in the studio and it's The Wanted's turn to do the official Comic Relief single, Gold Forever.
The music line-up also includes chart-busting Adele, Annie Lennox, Elbow and Gareth Malone, who will be trying to turn some TV chefs into a Comic Relief choir.
Your hosts through this comedy marathon will be Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Michael McIntyre, Graham Norton, Claudia Winkleman and Fearne Cotton.
There have been 12 Red Nose Days since 1988, helping to raise more than £500million to help needy people in the UK and abroad.
There'll also be films from David Tennant, Jack Dee, Ruth Jones and Comic Relief stalwart Lenny Henry, each providing frequent reminders of how your money can help change people's lives for the better.
Jane Simon, The Mirror, 18th March 2011It's Red Nose Day, which means only one thing: rip-roaring laughter and top telly treats, presented by TV favourites Lenny Henry, Fearne Cotton, Graham Norton, Jonathan Ross and Claudia Winkleman.
Highlights include a feast of unmissable sketches from the likes of James Corden, the cast of Outnumbered, Miranda Hart, Harry Hill, Steve Coogan and Armstrong & Miller.
There are also Comic Relief specials of Masterchef and The Choir and unforgettable music performances from some of the biggest names in the industry. The night is sprinkled with plenty of reminders of why it's all happening: to raise money to change the lives of extremely vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the UK and Africa.
The Daily Express, 18th March 2011Get your credit card out, make the phone call, pledge the money. Then you can sit back, guilt-free, and enjoy the funniest evening on telly since oooh, probably the last Red Nose Day. Anyone who's anyone from the world of comedy is on BBC TV tonight. There's funny stuff by Lenny Henry, Graham Norton, Peter Kay, Harry Hill and James Corden, and a road trip in the company of The Inbetweeners around the rudest places in Britain. There's also a mini episode of Doctor Who featuring two Amy Ponds, a special edition of Outnumbered and a Downton Abbey spoof. Adele sings live, and in a celebrity MasterChef Miranda Hart and Claudia Winkleman go head to head, which ought to be a physical impossibility. We also get a special version of The Choir, Gareth Malone's foolhardy bid to get celebrity chefs to sing Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up. In between all this are sobering film clips reminding us what it's all about and a ten-minute edition of EastEnders resolving the disturbing story about teenage prostitution.
Jane Rackham, Comic Relief, 18th March 2011The build-up has been going on for weeks with everything from a "rude road trip" by the stars of The Inbetweeners to Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton's daring Battersea Power Station highwire act, and a gruelling challenge that saw nine stars trek for five days across the Kaisut desert in Kenya. So, what can top that as the bi-annual charity fundraiser takes over the airwaves tonight?
Well, with a presentation team that includes Michael McIntyre, Lenny Henry, Graham Norton, Fearne Cotton, Jack Whitehall, Kevin Bridges, Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, James Corden and Jack Dee there are certainly lots of laughs in prospect. There's a host of one-off sketches to look forward to from Miranda Hart, Harry Hill, Steve Coogan, Armstrong & Miller and the cast of Outnumbered. There are also Comic Relief spin-offs of MasterChef and The Choir, and special outings for Doctor Who and EastEnders.
As well as all that, there are performances from some of the biggest names in the music industry, including George Michael and Boyzone, and reminders why it's all happening, with reports on how the money raised in previous years has benefited the underprivileged in Africa and here in the UK. Of course, amid all the chaos, everybody's eyes will be fixed on the cash counter clocking up every pound raised by volunteers and fundraisers. In 2009 Comic Relief raised £80 million.
Gerard O'Donovan, The Telegraph, 17th March 2011Graham Norton challenges Alan Carr to chat show gay-off
Graham Norton has challenged fellow chat show host Alan Carr to a 'gay-off,' but insists the camp TV presenter doesn't threaten him.
Metro, 16th March 2011