The Graham Norton Show

Robbie Williams says breaking into the US would scratch an itch; Rami Malek talks about his love of London; Motsi Mabuse says this year's Strictly was very, very special; and John Bishop reveals he never expected to be a stand-up.

Robbie Williams, talking about being portrayed as a CGI chimp in his riotous biopic Better Man says: "There needed to be a creative difference because the biopic genre has got a bit long and a bit tired, so we needed a unique selling point. When I heard everyone else in the film would be human and I would be a monkey I thought, 'Yes! This is an eccentric idea, it's a huge swing, I can instantly see it, it's incredible.' It was only when I told my wife I realised it might be contentious."

Asked if he enjoyed watching it, he says, "It starts out all cheeky chappie and then 45 minutes in it is just like Trainspotting - it's like the greatest hits of trauma and grief so yes, it's a bit confronting, a bit triggering."

Talking more about the film and asked if he has burnt lots of bridges by doing it, he says, "I sent the first script to Gary Barlow and he phoned me up - we have a great relationship now - and said, 'Rob, I come off worse that Darth Vader in Star Wars,' so we made amendments.

"When you talk about my past it happens to be contentious, and I was a different person then. The film brings all that up again so it's super odd and I can understand how it could be hard for Gary. As for the other people I throw under the bus I don't care!"

Asked if he thinks the film will give him the opportunity to finally break into the US, he says, "Maybe. It's not the be all and end all but, it would scratch an itch."

Rami Malek, talking about taking to the stage in Oedipus, says: "I've always wanted to work in the West End - I mean, what's better than doing anything on stage in London? It's venerable, it's the peak. The play is a modern take on the original with dancing and my instinct told me it was for me."

Asked by Robbie if he has done theatre before, Rami says, "I studied it in college, so it has been a long time, so I am really stretching myself. I wanted to dance, so here's hoping I can pull it off. The jury is still out on whether I can, but I will persevere."

Talking about living in the UK, he says, "I've been here a while and am getting ingrained in the culture. I get taken to fancy things, but I always want the pub culture. The best part of the year has been finding my local, playing darts, and doing the quiz night. I'm quite bad at the quizzes but I love them."

Motsi Mabuse, talking about next year's Strictly Come Dancing live tour, "It's my first year and I am super excited to be with the other judges. We will do a number which is nice because we don't get to dance much. I've never been to any of the places we are going so I am taking the whole family and I've done my homework. It will be lovely."

And on Strictly itself, she says, "It was a very, very special season. I thought it was absolutely brilliant with great people and beautiful dancing, and we all gelled together. Chris [McCausland] was amazing."

Asked about her sister Oti being on I'm A Celebrity she says, "We are all so proud of her. She is really great and if she does something she does it well - there is no half play. She was so courageous and amazing."

John Bishop, talking about his upcoming 25 tour, says, "It reflects the fact that I never expected to do this as a job. It is 25 years since my first ever gig at the Frog and Bucket in Manchester. On the tour I'm doing all the arenas and that one comedy club."

Revealing his wax likeness is no more, he says, "About 15 years ago Madam Tussauds asked if they could make a model of me for the entertainment section in Blackpool. So, when I was there on tour, I thought it would be fun to go and have a picture with it. I asked at reception if they had a 'John Bishop', and the guy said. 'Mate, we've not had that here for three or four years.' I thought it was funny because I have been melted down for the next generation of famous people. That's showbiz!"

Robbie performs a spectacular all-singing, all-dancing version of his massive hit Rock DJ.