The Graham Norton Show

Matthew Perry says rumours of a Friends reunion are not true, Gemma Arterton says her family is not keen on her RADA accent, Miriam Margolyes says she often pretends to be Scottish and Jack Savoretti performs live in the studio.

Matthew Perry, asked if rumours of a Friends reunion are true, says, "It's not true. It's not the reunion everyone is hoping for - they are celebrating Jim Burrows who was a director of Friends. The other five (Friends) are going to be on this special and I am going to introduce them from London. I'm doing the play here so I can't be there."

Asked if he knew Friends would be such a hit, he says, "I knew it would be a success and that we had something special, but I didn't know the giant hit it would become."

Revealing he still remembers much about his character, he answers correctly all Chandler's questions from the Friends episode in which the girls lose the apartment.

Talking about his new West End play, The End of Longing, which he both wrote and stars in, he says, "It's a good play for a Friends generation but it is a darker version of Friends." Asked if it's semi autobiographical, he says, "I play a drunk so it's a slightly exaggerated form of myself but it's not really me." Miriam Margolyes queries Matthew's answer, "Were you an alcoholic?" To which Matthew replies, "I am. I'm a recovering alcoholic. I'm glad we're talking about this!"

Recounting a rather embarrassing story, Matthew says, "About 15 years ago I met M. Night Shyamalan. Six months later I was at bar with some friends and he walked in and said, 'Hi Matthew,' and I went, 'Oh my god, how are you? Join us.' We were there for about an hour talking and I notice my friends filtered out and then it was just M. Night Shyamalan and me for another hour. We weren't talking about show business but about women and love and loss and life. I had this weird moment when I was convinced I was going to be a big movie star as a result of this night. He was laughing at all my jokes and he was really into me so I felt comfortable enough to say, 'We should work together some time.' He looked at me oddly and I remember thinking, 'I wish I hadn't said that.'

"Then he went to the bathroom and a friend of mine came up to me and asked how my night was going. I told him I was having the best night of my life and that M. Night Shyamalan and I had been hanging out for the last two and half hours. M. Night Shyamalan comes back from the bathroom and my friend says that's not him. And it wasn't. It was just an Indian gentleman that looked a lot like him. It turns out he was the maître d' in a local restaurant! We still see each other occasionally and we look at each other like jilted lovers!"

Miriam, who admits she has never seen the Friends, says, "I'll tell you why. I lived in LA for a while and met the creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman - I really liked David but couldn't stand Marta so I thought, 'I'm not watching that!'"

Talking about her new series The Real Marigold Hotel, she says, "India is the most wonderful place. I don't know if I would retire there but I would like to go back." Revealing the filming almost ended in disaster, she says, "I nearly fell in the Ganges. We were on a boat and I fell asleep and gradually started keeling over into the water. I am amazed I was pulled back. I suppose it means I made friends."

Asked if there was any bickering among the 'celebrity pensioners,' in the documentary, she says, "We were determined that wouldn't happen and we all got on very well. India is the star of the show."

Gemma Arterton, revealing she is a huge Friends fan, says, "When I was a kid I even had the 'Rachel' haircut. It wasn't a good period. It didn't suit me. It looked terrible."

Asked about being recognised, she says, "In London it's fine because people keep themselves to themselves but in Gravesend (her home town) it's different. There's even a picture of me in the pub, which is weird."

Talking about her family, she says, "They are not keen on my RADA voice and put me in my place when I go home." Miriam interjects, "If I need anything when I am out like directions, the time or the way to a garage I use a Scottish accent. It is classic and very friendly."

Gemma demonstrates the art of Fan language learnt for her new role as Nell Gwyn.

Jack Savoretti performs Catapult live in the studio before joining Graham for a chat.