Harrison Ford

Radio Times review

Ross can still trade blows with Graham Norton: the night after the BBC One host had Carrie Fisher on his sofa, Wossy has another Star Wars star, Harrison Ford, on his. That's the cinema event of the season covered. As for TV, David Walliams has, via the circuitous route of writing books that lend themselves to sparkly dramatisations, become a festive fixture. He's here to chat about Billionaire Boy, which forms part of BBC One's heavyweight schedule on New Year's Day.

But, quick! Hide the jellied fruits! Jamie Oliver, whose campaign against excess sugar is gathering speed, is on the bill, too. He will, however, surely say a little indulgence is OK. Jess Glynne provides the music.

It's been another winning year for Graham Norton - great guests (his New Year's Eve line-up this year was extraordinary) and great audience figures. Even if you saw every episode of the most recent series these best-bit compilations are always worth a look. So prepare to relive the good and the bad.

The good include Lady Gaga forging an unlikely, instant friendship with EastEnders' Dot Cotton, June Brown; the two Doctors Matt Smith and David Tennant taking fan questions; and Paul McCartney talking about his collaboration with Michael Jackson. And the bad? Michelle Pfeiffer and a very unforthcoming Robert De Niro looking bored and baffled as Cher and Jennifer Saunders stole the show. And Harrison Ford seemingly very unimpressed by Jack Whitehall.

Now firmly ensconced in the Friday night post-news slot made desirable by Jonathan Ross, Norton has shown a similar ability to lure in the A-listers. The first episode of this latest run of his chatshow (series 14, if you're counting) is, oddly, an all-male affair, with Harrison Ford and Benedict Cumberbatch filling the Hollywood quota, and Jack Whitehall continuing his career-long tiptoe along the line between cheeky and thoroughly obnoxious. Maudlin strummy type James Blunt performs his new single.

The battle of the Friday night chat shows is rejoined, with Graham Norton returning to the pitch Channel 4 rival Alan Carr has had to himself these past few weeks.

Norton is hitting big on opening night, with Hollywood legend Harrison Ford, on the promo trail for new movie Ender's Game, and the versatile Benedict Cumberbatch dropping by for a chat and Jack Whitehall providing the funnies.

Friday nights get a boost as the chat show returns after too long a break. Maybe it's because he packs his sofa with three celebrities simultaneously that Norton's shows go with a partyish swing. At best they can throw up the kind of unlikely encounters that give us a glimpse of the real person under the celebrity armour. Then again, that armour rarely comes thicker than Harrison Ford's: he pays a visit tonight to promote his new sci-fi movie Ender's Game.

More exciting is the visit of the hallowed Benedict Cumberbatch, fresh from playing Julian Assange on the big screen. Jack Whitehall will be on the comedy end of the couch while James Blunt provides the music.