The Graham Norton Show

Graham Norton: 'My chat show pays for itself'

"Most of the big earners pay their way. My show is shown in a bunch of countries and pays for itself."

Graham Norton: I'm not friends with anybody famous

Talk turns to the government's continual calling for the Beeb to publish the salary details of its best-paid stars. "It will happen and I won't be pleased," sighs Graham. "And also, it isn't going to be that accurate, because a lot of people are on company payrolls, others are freelance and others are half and half. I'm not sure how I'm paid."

Why can't the UK do late night comedy?

Chat shows are thriving in the US, with James Corden leading the viral charge. Yet British versions keep on biting the dust.

Norton introduces some of his favourite moments from the past 14 shows in this series closer, featuring the usual roster of A-listers; the likes of Helen Mirren, Russell Crowe and Samuel L Jackson. Given his guests' extraordinary willingness to bare their souls and more, we may well be treated again to Dame Joan Collins opening up about her late sister or Hugh Grant breezily revealing how many of his leading ladies couldn't stand him.

Graham Norton is the master of pulling in the big guests and treating them to his charm, irreverence and sauce. This week he's joined by the inimitable Patsy and Edina (Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders) for the release of Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie. Australian fun-bomb Rebel Wilson completes a lineup of witty women. There's also audience participation and music from sinewy rock cockroach Iggy Pop.

Hugh Grant excelled himself on The Graham Norton show

It's rare to see Hugh Grant on a chat show sofa but after his appearance on The Graham Norton Show, there will no doubt be more calls for it to happen as soon as possible.

No doubt who is the biggest star on Graham's sofa tonight, as three-time Oscar-winner Meryl Streep visits the studio to discuss playing Florence Foster Jenkins in Stephen Frears's biopic of the tuneless opera singer. Streep's co-star Hugh Grant also appears, as does Keeley Hawes, promoting The Durrells. Music arrives from Eurovision hopefuls Joe and Jake, performing You're Not Alone, hopefully not a fateful choice of title given how many Eurovisions have ended with Britain's acts looking very lonely indeed.

Why The Graham Norton Show is so special

I do think that The Graham Norton Show is something special, and it's why his sofa is the one that film publicists fight the hardest to get movie talent onto.

Chatty Man shunted off Friday night screens

Graham Norton has emerged as the undisputed winner of the telly chat show war. Channel 4 has shunted Alan Carr's Chatty Man from Fridays in a bid to boost ratings.