British Comedy Guide
The Graham Norton Show. Graham Norton. Credit: So Television, Christopher Baines
The Graham Norton Show

The Graham Norton Show

  • TV chat show
  • BBC One / BBC Two
  • 2007 - 2024
  • 514 episodes (32 series)

Comic chat show presented by Graham Norton. The biggest names in showbiz join the host on his sofa.

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Series 19, Episode 6 - Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Martin Freeman, Maxine Peake, Birdy

Seth Rogen says The Interview was a weird experience, Paul Rudd talks about how a prank he played on Michael Douglas went wrong, Martin Freeman reveals he plans to be in more superhero movies, and Maxine Peake recalls the advice Victoria Wood gave her. Birdy performs live in the studio.

Preview clips

Further details

Seth Rogen, talking about his political comedy The Interview, and the reaction of North Korea to it, says, "It was a horrible experience. It was bizarre to have personal security. And on the day my bodyguard disappeared, I thought, 'This is it, this is when I die,' but actually it turned out that the studio just didn't want to pay for it any more! It was a very weird experience."

Chatting about his new movie Bad Neighbours 2 and the toddler that plays his daughter who is exposed to bad taste jokes and sexual references, he jokes, "I think she understood everything, but her very nice, well paid parents, will be able to afford the therapy for their daughter, which is a good thing because she will probably need it!

And on his co-star Zac Efron, he says, "His body is freakishly toned. It's truly unbelievable. He is in a constant state of exercising. I do the equal thing for not exercising. I'm the inverse ratio for that!"

Paul Rudd, talking about his role as Ant Man in Captain America: Civil War and his children's reaction to it, he says, "They are excited. They knew I was an actor in theory but they had never shown any interest before."

Talking more about his kids, and a recent surprise that didn't quite go to plan, he says, "I decided to take them to Disney World so sat them down and very seriously told them they would not be going to school and when I finally told them why they weren't too excited and freaked out because of my tone. My daughter cried and my son said he thought someone had died."

Revealing a prank he played on Michael Douglas whilst filming Ant-Man also didn't quite go to plan, he says, "He is a legend and whilst he is really sweet and cordial, I could never relax with him on set so on the last day of filming I thought it would be funny to reenact the Basic Instinct Sharon Stone scene while he had to deliver a monologue. So I unzipped my jeans and was fumbling around to get in the right position when Michael saw me. He such a pro that he finished his speech but then said, 'Are you a complete pervert?' The prank didn't play out as I anticipated!"

Martin Freeman, talking about his role in Captain America: Civil War and asked about acting with Paul, he says, "We don't know each other. Apparently we are in the same film but our paths didn't cross, in fact my path didn't cross with an awful lot of people in that film! I watched it for the first time today and I didn't know anyone in it!" Paul interjects, "I was very excited to work with Martin on the film and we are now meeting for the first time on this show."

Asked if he is likely to appear in more superhero movies, Martin adds, "That's the plan. I think my character will develop a bit more as I enter the Marvel world a bit more which seems to be happening."

Talking about Sherlock, he says, "We are back filming now and the three shows will, I imagine, be out around Christmas." Revealing fans on set are a little problematic, he says, "There is always a heightened state of excitement and we sometimes have to respectfully remind them that we have to be focused and it's not a live gig!"

Complimented on his dapper appearance, Martin says, "I like clothes a lot but I can't just throw something on. I can't leave the house - whether it's walking the dog or going to Sainsbury's - without it being right. That can take a while and it drives my wife up the wall."

Maxine Peake, asked if she likes getting dressed up for red carpets, she says, "Not really. I'm never invited to anything if I'm honest! I'm the opposite of glamour and prefer comfy casual." Complimented on her appearance tonight she says, "Thank you. I was trying to be sophisticated and less Northern!"

Talking about the late great Victoria Wood, with whom she starred in dinnerladies, and the advice she had given her, Maxine says, "I was a lot larger then and the wonderful Victoria gave me a little chat. She said, 'You're fat, you're blond and you're northern, you'll get typecast.' She felt it was what she had experienced. I'd been told at drama school but when someone like Victoria said it I took notice and lost loads of weight. But unfortunately I did it a bit too quick and I had to wear a fat suit for the second series!"

Adding, "Working with someone the caliber of her was an amazing inspiration to me. Growing up Wood and Walters was who I wanted to be. Her death was such sad news."

Asked about her family's reaction to some of her roles, she says, "My granddad wanted to watch me in Room at the Top a few years ago and I'd forgotten how raunchy the sex scenes were. We started to watch it and a few seconds in I said, 'Whoa,' and hit the off button and that was it. We never mentioned it again!"

Birdy performs Wild Horses live in the studio, before joining Graham for a chat. Talking about her success at such a young age, which she describes as "Crazy," she says, "It has been a weird five years."

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 29th April 2016
Time
10:35pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
60 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Graham Norton Host / Presenter
Guest cast
Martin Freeman Guest
Paul Rudd Guest
Seth Rogen Guest
Maxine Peake Guest
Jasmine Van den Bogaerde (as Birdy) Guest
Writing team
Rob Colley Writer
Dan Gaster Writer
Production team
Nikki Parsons Director
Jon Magnusson Series Producer
Rina Dayalji Producer
Pete Snell Producer
Vicky Taylor Producer
Graham Stuart Executive Producer
Catherine Strauss Line Producer
Perry Widdowson Editor
Chris Webster Production Designer
Lindsey McLean Costume Designer
Mandy Furlonger Make-up Designer
Jonathan Whitehead (as Trellis) Composer
Kerry Hussain Graphics
Mike Sutcliffe Lighting Designer

Videos

Seth Rogen on working with a real tiger

Seth Rogen talks about how scary it was working with a real tiger on the film The Interview.

Featuring: Graham Norton & Seth Rogen.

Paul Rudd talks about his Captain America fangirl moment

Paul Rudd reveals that he couldn't resist having a play with Captain America's shield on the set of his latest film.

Featuring: Graham Norton & Paul Rudd.

Maxine Peake talks about Victoria Wood

Maxine Peake talks about working with Victoria Wood on dinnerladies and reveals the career advice Victoria gave her.

Featuring: Graham Norton & Maxine Peake.

Martin Freeman talks about being naked in Love Actually

Martin Freeman talks about the modesty 'purse' that male actors wear for love scenes.

Featuring: Graham Norton & Martin Freeman.

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