John Malkovich

Johnny English revisited

He might not be the smartest, but he gets the job done... eventually.

There's an unashamedly Great British feel to this transatlantic production of Douglas Adams's funny sci-fi novel. Having dressing-gowned Martin Freeman as befuddled space traveller Arthur Dent is like Doctor Who gatecrashing Star Wars. But it's a witty, beautifully designed adventure, with starry comic turns from Bill Nighy, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren.

Tonight, there's a chance to compare and contrast Richard Gere, then and now.

His best-known movie, Pretty Woman, is on after this but first he shares sofa space with young actress Saoirse Ronan - a music-loving vampire in Neil Jordan's Byzantium - and the multi-talented John Malkovich, whose recent work includes directing a French-language stage production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses - a film he starred in almost 25 years ago.

Taylor Swift does her perky, country pop thing in the music break.

Norton has secured another cast-iron Hollywood line-up as Richard Gere and John Malkovich grace the red sofa, with young actress Saoirse Ronan as the rose between two thorns.

Gere is probably best known now more as a Buddhist and a campaigner for a free Tibet than for his films, while Malkovich is still busy making movies, including the zombie comedy Warm Bodies, and Red 2 with Helen Mirren and Bruce Willis as a bunch of retired assassins returning for another dangerous job. Taylor Swift sings live in the studio.

Richard Gere makes his debut on Graham Norton's chat show tonight to plug his new film, Arbitrage. He'll share the sofa with John Malkovich, who stars in Red 2 with Helen Mirren and Bruce Willis, and Atonement actress Saoirse Ronan, with country star Taylor Swift providing the music. The absence of a comedian may mean Norton putting in extra legwork to keep the atmosphere light, but as often happens on this show, Hollywood A-listers prove surprisingly funny given half a chance.