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 29, Episode 5 - Eddie Redmayne, Jessie Buckley, Stephen Merchant, Motsi Mabuse, Ian McKellen, Elton John, Charlie Puth

Eddie Redmayne talks about performing Karaoke, Jessie Buckley admits she shared more rosé than lines with Olivia Colman, Motsi Mabuse jokes about her sister winning Strictly, Stephen Merchant says working with Christopher Walken was surreal, Ian McKellen reveals Extras cheers him up, plus Elton John and Charlie Puth perform their new single.

Preview clips

Further details

Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley chat about their new West End show Cabaret.

Asked how the musical differs from the film and previous stage show, Eddie says, "They are both beautiful and extraordinary, but Jessie and I love the musical so decided to investigate it in a different way. It's properly immersive for the audience, you really feel like you are in the Kit Kat Club in Berlin."

Jessie adds, "It's been so fun, and the company is amazing, the director is amazing, and Eddie is alright!"

Eddie, talking about his grandma says, "She is nearly 100 and not able to come and see the show, so I went to her care home with the karaoke version of the musical and performed the whole thing for her - even Jessie's parts. She definitely dropped off - she said she was closing her eyes because she was enjoying it so much!"

Jessie, talking about her upcoming movie The Lost Daughter, in which she plays the younger version of Olivia Colman's character, admits, "We had such a good time, but we never actually worked together. We had a four-day cross over and we would drink rosé and have a huge sing-song, which was great until it was six o'clock and you had to go to work!"

Motsi Mabuse, talking about Strictly and her fellow judges, says, "We are all having so much fun with Anton and I am really happy he is there."

Asked about same sex couples and contestants with disabilities, she says, "It is beautiful to see the show opening up and being so inclusive and I am glad it is moving with the times."

Cheekily asked about her sister Oti winning two out of the three shows she has judged, she jokes, "Yes, I planned it all! It is funny that people think I have power of that, but not yet! I actually don't look at her, I focus on the celebrity so I don't feel bad, but after the show I might say to her, 'Not bad' or 'Well done!'"

Stephen Merchant, talking about his new BBC series The Outlaws, and asked about working with Christopher Walken, says: "I never thought for a moment growing up in Bristol that one day I would be making TV and would be sitting with the Oscar-winning star of The Deer Hunter. It was one of those incredibly surreal experiences."

Describing his role in the series, he jokes, "I really stretched myself. I play an awkward middle-aged gangly nerd - you may as well get BAFTA on the phone now because it is quite a performance!"

Ian McKellen, revealing a bald head and talking about his new play, The Cherry Orchard, says, "I play a very old man so shaved off my hair - eat your heart out Patrick Stewart!" Joking about his role as an elderly retainer, he says, "It the part you usually play at the end of your career."

Reminded he has just played the rather youthful role of Hamlet, he says, "The funny thing is, when I was doing that, I was running up and down stairs and I felt fit as a fiddle. Now I am playing an old fellow, I come off stage aching all over!"

Revealing that when he needs cheering up, he watches the episode of Extras he appeared in, he says, "It is one of the best scripts I have ever had to learn and perform - the laughs fall out of you because of the way it was written. When I watch it, I laugh my head off!"

Stephen, interjects, "It was one of my proudest moments. It was the first time I had worked with an actor of Ian's calibre - it was a joy."

In a pre-recorded segment, Elton John and Charlie Puth perform After All from Elton's new album The Lockdown Sessions.

Asked if he had been intending to produce an album during the lockdown, Elton says, "No, not at all - I was going to do nothing! Charlie asked me to do it and then when I was back in England other people wanted to do songs and it just grew and grew until I had a germ of an album."

Revealing Elton had given him some advice, Charlie says, "He wrote in the front of his autobiography, 'Charlie, don't do any of this!'"

Asked if he will be touring soon again, Elton says, "This leg of the tour was postponed because my leg isn't working - I need a hip replacement. Hopefully in a couple of months I will be raring to go again."

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 22nd October 2021
Time
10:35pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
45 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Graham Norton Host / Presenter
Guest cast
Stephen Merchant Guest
Ian McKellen Guest
Eddie Redmayne Guest
Motsi Mabuse Guest
Jessie Buckley Guest
Elton John Guest
Charlie Puth Guest
Writing team
Rob Colley Writer
Production team
Toby Baker Director
Jon Magnusson Series Producer
Pete Snell Producer
Graham Stuart Executive Producer
Catherine Strauss Line Producer
Perry Widdowson Editor
Chris Webster Production Designer
Mandy Furlonger Make-up Designer
Chris Rigby Lighting Designer
Jonathan Whitehead (as Trellis) Composer
Kerry Hussain Graphics

Videos

Motsi Mabuse admits Craig Revel Horwood is obsessed with her

Strictly Come Dancing's Motsi Mabuse talks about working with her sister and co-stars.

Featuring: Graham Norton & Motsi Mabuse.

Stephen Merchant on trying to carry Bruce Springsteen

Stephen Merchant tells a story about stalking Bruce Springsteen in order to help him crowd surf.

Featuring: Graham Norton & Stephen Merchant.

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