Liza Minnelli

An hour-long gush-fest for one of our greatest actresses, who, according to the narration, half the world actually believes is part of the royal family.

"I think we would be quite happy if she became queen," says one of the show's rentagobs (Queen Judi? Has a nice ring to it, don'you think?!).

She's a "tough old boot," says another (off with his head!).

The programme covers Dame Judi's 50-odd year career, from early performances in Z Cars and Cabaret (in the role later made famous by Liza Minnelli) through the sitcoms of the 80s and the 90s film career to her more recent work, including Cranford and the mobile phone film Rage, for which she had to be taught how to smoke a joint.

Although sticking firmly to the usual format of these type of shows (bit of an unseen clip, testimony from a colleague, another more well-known clip, quote from a TV expert who has never met her) it's delightful.

So long as you can stand all the gushing.

Nobody adds more value to celebrity chat than Graham Norton. He creates a kind of cocktail-party feel, so his guests end up riffing off each other in unlikely ways. Anyone who saw his show where actor James McAvoy ended up in a three-way mind-reading contest with Liza Minnelli and Jack Dee will know what I mean.

McAvoy is back tonight: he tends to play sad roles (the wronged hero in Atonement, the young Charles Xavier in X-Men: First Class), but can be quick-witted on a TV sofa. He'll need to be to compete with fellow guest John Bishop. Arctic Monkeys provide the music.

Old friends Liza Minnelli and Graham Norton have a lot of catching up to do.

She's been on his show numerous times before but the last time was on V Graham Norton way back in 2003 when she came with her then husband David Gest. A lot of water has passed under that particular bridge since then...

With a new CD to promote, Liza kicks off a tour at the Royal Albert Hall at the end of this month, with dates in Europe and Las Vegas - and she'll be singing tonight.

Joining her on the sofa is Shameless actor turned Hollywood star James McAvoy, who'll have all the goss from the new X Men movie in which he plays the young Professor X, and Lead Balloon star Jack Dee completes the line up.

When Jack Dee is only the third most interesting person on the bill, you know you're in for a good show.

Now this could be fun, because tonight a trio of really disparate guests make themselves comfy on the sofa: Jack Dee, James McAvoy and drum roll Liza Minnelli! We know how much Norton loves a gay icon, judging by his glee at recent appearances by Bette Midler and Lady Gaga, but surely Minnelli beats them all. She talks about her life and career, of course, and also sings live. It will be delicious to see what she makes of Jack Dee, promoting a new series of his doleful sitcom Lead Balloon, in that often uncomfortable juxtaposition of a megastar and a cheeky British comedian they've never heard of (remember Maggie Gyllenhaal's bewilderment when faced with Russell Howard?). Bona fide Hollywood action man McAvoy (hasn't he come a long way since Shameless?) will discuss his role in the latest X Men movie, X Men First Class.