The Graham Norton Show

Mr Norton is spreading his guest net wide tonight in a bid to lure viewers away from chatty rival Alan Carr. He's got the national treasure spot covered with Dame Judi Dench, Hollywood allure with Mila Kunis and James Franco - stars of Oz The Great And Powerful - and home-grown acting talent courtesy of Jude Law, promoting new movie Side Effects. Then there's Olly Murs, taking a belated tilt at musical credibility with new single Army Of Two.

Dame Judi Dench was a Norton guest only last October when she appeared alongside her Skyfall pals Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem. But who cares? She's lovely and she's a national treasure and obviously we just can't get enough of her because she's back tonight.

Dame Judi shares the sofa with a glittery line-up - Mila Kunis and James Franco, in town to promote their new film, Oz the Great and Powerful, and Jude Law, starring with Rooney Mara in the movie Side Effects. Music comes courtesy of Olly Murs.

Tonight, there's a chance to compare and contrast Richard Gere, then and now.

His best-known movie, Pretty Woman, is on after this but first he shares sofa space with young actress Saoirse Ronan - a music-loving vampire in Neil Jordan's Byzantium - and the multi-talented John Malkovich, whose recent work includes directing a French-language stage production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses - a film he starred in almost 25 years ago.

Taylor Swift does her perky, country pop thing in the music break.

Norton has secured another cast-iron Hollywood line-up as Richard Gere and John Malkovich grace the red sofa, with young actress Saoirse Ronan as the rose between two thorns.

Gere is probably best known now more as a Buddhist and a campaigner for a free Tibet than for his films, while Malkovich is still busy making movies, including the zombie comedy Warm Bodies, and Red 2 with Helen Mirren and Bruce Willis as a bunch of retired assassins returning for another dangerous job. Taylor Swift sings live in the studio.

Richard Gere makes his debut on Graham Norton's chat show tonight to plug his new film, Arbitrage. He'll share the sofa with John Malkovich, who stars in Red 2 with Helen Mirren and Bruce Willis, and Atonement actress Saoirse Ronan, with country star Taylor Swift providing the music. The absence of a comedian may mean Norton putting in extra legwork to keep the atmosphere light, but as often happens on this show, Hollywood A-listers prove surprisingly funny given half a chance.

The sainted Delia Smith takes her place on the sofa tonight, just one ingredient in a rich mixture of guests. The Hollywood shimmer comes from Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton, who'll be talking about their new film, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.

Matt Lucas, now a bit of a film star after his turn in the hit Bridesmaids, is in comedy corner, where doubtless he'll want to talk about the return of his BBC1 series, The Matt Lucas Awards. Rita Ora is the musical guest.

He's made a big impact as a star in such movies as Boogie Nights, The Departed and The Fighter but for some of us, Mark Wahlberg will always be Marky Mark. Chances are, though, that Graham Norton won't have the front to request a pose in shiny white Calvins - Wahlberg is very serious about his acting and is in Britain to talk about latest film Broken City, a crime thriller co-starring Russell Crowe. Now that must have been a punchy set. There's more movie talk with Shame star Michael Fassbender, soon to be seen in a live-action take on gaming sensation Assassin's Creed, plus laughs from Sarah Silverman and music from Laura Mvula.

With two guests who have never strayed far from controversy, tonight's edition promises to be lively. As rap singer Marky Mark, Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg was a hothead often involved in fights, although he's more controlled these days and is promoting his new film Broken City.

Satirical comedian Sarah Silverman found fame on Saturday Night Live, where pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable soon became her trademark.

Norton's sofa is graced by the presence of thespian heavyweight Dame Helen Mirren, who gives us the lowdown on her Bafta-nominated performance in Hitchcock. Casting her as the wife of the legendary director, the film gives an insight into Hitchcock's obsession with his female leads, telling the other side of the story shown in BBC2's The Girl screened over Christmas. Also chatting with the host are US actors Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann bigging up their own film, This Is 40, the sequel to smash hit Knocked Up. Music comes from The X Factor winners Little Mix, still spinning out their 15 minutes of fame.

Fabulous Helen Mirren takes her place on the Norton sofa tonight to talk up her new film, Hitchcock. She's been nominated for a Bafta for her role as the director's long-suffering wife, Alma Reville, opposite Anthony Hopkins as the Master of Suspense.

Mirren is teetering dangerously close to becoming, like her fellow Dame, Judi Dench, a national treasure - she's funny, never appears to take herself too seriously and is a super-fantastic actress who played the best EVER television detective, Jane Tennison in all of those Prime Suspects.

Keeping her company is the underrated, hugely brilliant comic actor Paul Rudd, who can make any ropey old movie (have you seen The Object of My Affection?) seem not so bad after all. He's in London promoting his new film, This Is 40, Judd Apatow's sequel to Knocked Up.