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 30, Episode 2 - Lesley Manville, Hugh Bonneville, Lashana Lynch, Big Zuu, Sam Ryder

Hugh Bonneville says Downton was a gear shift in his career, Lesley Manville reveals how naughty Judi Dench can be on stage, Lashana Lynch talks about the physicality of her new film, Big Zuu says acting's not for him, and Sam Ryder performs live in the studio.

Further details

Hugh Bonneville, talking about his heart-warming memoir Playing Under the Piano, and asked if he knew his father would play such a big role in the book, says, "I really didn't. I had been asked to write a series of anecdotal memories, and then I just started writing about my dad - strange stuff just took over and I began to realise his influence on me was incredibly profound. I wrote far more about him than I anticipated and it was quite cathartic."

Asked about the impact Downton has had on his life, he says, "People think it was my big break but I had been acting for 25+ years before then and happily so, but it was a completely strange gear shift. When we did series one no one was particularly interested as everyone thought costume drama was dead, and then suddenly it exploded and had a huge effect around the world. It was very, very peculiar and wonderful at the same time. And, certainly without Downton I wouldn't have met Paddington."

Lesley Manville, describing her new comedy drama Mrs Harris Goes To Paris, says, "It is a musical without music, a soothing balm. It is two hours of gorgeous escapism and people like it which is great."

Asked if the cockney expressions might be confusing for some American audiences, she say, "I said 'Gordon Bennett' a few times but I didn't overdo it - I didn't want the movie to have to have subtitles!"

Talking about her long career in the theatre, and reminiscing about working with Judi Dench in the 1980s, she says, "We were in the Cherry Orchard and I was on stage on my own and she was in the wings trying to make me laugh. She was pretending she was being pleasured from behind! I laughed so much I wet myself. Luckily I had a long dress on but the stage was raked and I could see my pee trickling down and over the edge into the stalls. She is so naughty!"

Lashana Lynch, talking about her acclaimed warrior-women blockbuster The Woman King, says, "It has an amazing cast and is an epic drama with real stunts, real life, real women, real power, and real inspiration. Working with an all-female crew was fantastic and very rare."

Asked about the physicality of her performance, she says, "Because everyone did their own stunts they were so deeply committed - we were in the gym six days a week for five hours a day in order to represent what you see on screen. It was hard work throwing men around and using machetes and I discovered muscles I didn't know I had. It was incredible."

Big Zuu, talking about his mainstream success, and asked if he will ever be studio based, says, "No, I'd rather chuck everything in a van. That's what we are good at. I enjoy being in a studio because less can go wrong, but I like the rawness of the programme when we are out on the road just chilling."

Asked about his acting ambitions, he says, "I got into it a little bit. Learning lines is easy but the one thing I found really hard was not laughing at funny lines, and I am so used to looking into a camera I couldn't stop glancing down the lens, which you are not meant to do. I won't do it for ever mainly because there is too much standing around. It took us eight hours to film a one minute conversation!"

Sam Ryder performs his new single Somebody live in the studio before joining Graham for a chat.

Talking about Eurovision, he says, "I was always a fan and it seemed to be the wrong energy to say 'no' to doing it because we might come last. My enthusiasm was greater than my fear and it has opened so many doors."

Asked if he will be involved next year, he says, "I really don't know, I haven't a clue, but I want to be there - it will be incredible."

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 7th October 2022
Time
10:40pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
60 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Graham Norton Host / Presenter
Guest cast
Hugh Bonneville Guest
Lashana Lynch Guest
Lesley Manville Guest
Sam Ryder Guest
Big Zuu 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

Big Zuu thought Michel Roux's souffle was "dead"

Big Zuu on why he doesn't like the studio setup, and his opinions on Michel Roux.

Featuring: Graham Norton & Big Zuu.

Lesley Manville laughed so hard she wet herself

Lesley Manville on how everyone's favourite Judi Dench made her laugh so hard she wet herself on stage.

Featuring: Graham Norton & Lesley Manville.

The Hugh Bonneville scene too saucy for Paddington

Hugh Bonneville on how important his role in Downton Abbey was, and how he changed the parental guidance from a 'U' to 'PG'.

Featuring: Graham Norton & Hugh Bonneville.

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