The Graham Norton Show

Expect Olympic levels of glitter, fanfare and A-list excitement on Graham Norton's show tonight, as Madonna, shape-shifting queen of pop, arrives in the studio to discuss her life, career and the forthcoming release of W.E. - a romantic drama about the life of Wallis Simpson, which she co-wrote and directed. James D'Arcy and Andrea Riseborough, who play King Edward VIII and Simpson, also drop in to talk about their roles.

Gerard Butler has made some stinkers in his time (The Bounty Hunter, Phantom of the Opera and The Ugly Truth to name a few), but one role he did do rather well in was the muscle-bound comic adaptation 300. This makes his casting as Coriolanus's fearsome nemesis, Aufidius, in Ralph Fiennes's upcoming brutal film version of Shakespeare's play seem rather apt. Butler joins Graham Norton along with Doctor Who star Karen Gillan and Noel Gallagher - who also performs his new single.

Norton has opted for a "best of British" line-up tonight, with thesp and director Kenneth Branagh in to discuss the prosthetic chin he wore to play Laurence Olivier in My Week with Marilyn, comedian Russell Kane to push his DVD of innocuous Essex jokes, and actor Matt Smith to, hopefully, reveal all about the Doctor Who Christmas special.

Robert Downey Jr was last on the show in 2009, promoting Guy Ritchie's film Sherlock Holmes. He declared it "the strangest show I've ever been on" as Norton turned his back on the star and played around on his laptop for several minutes.

Downey Jr then had to use a flannel to wipe custard-pie foam off the face of fellow guest, comedian Ed Byrne, before listening to Will Young singing.

None of this seems to have put him off returning to talk about Ritchie's sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, although this time he's got his Watson (Jude Law) to keep him company, and plenty else to talk about in the form of his second child, who's due in February.

Hollywood comes calling to the sofa: a double act of Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, in town to promote their new Shrek spin-off movie Puss in Boots. The two may well talk about why they've appeared together so often on screen (six movies), while fellow guest Jimmy Carr quips from the sidelines. A musical contribution from Coldplay, performing the new single, is the cherry on the cake.

Infinitely more lovable than Jonathan Ross, a shiny-suited Norton welcomes another four guests to his boisterous Friday night chat show. Gavin and Stacey's James Corden will be insisting we take him seriously following the stellar run of One Man, Two Guvnors at the National. Expect a torrent of jokes as fellow comedian Sarah Millican and Bradley Cooper of The Hangover Part II will also be vying for attention on the red sofa, while rock star Lenny Kravitz performs.

Now this could be interesting: Robin Williams is a guest tonight and he is a notoriously loose cannon. Undoubtedly he's a clever and witty comedian, but he finds it hard to turn himself off. So will Williams be "on" when he takes his place on the Norton sofa? He shares the limelight here with busy young Elijah Wood (recently on BBC3 in the very odd US comedy Wilfred) and with our own Jennifer Saunders, who returns to TV screens at Christmas with an Absolutely Fabulous special.

Tonight's chat-show guests are American comedian-actor Robin Williams and actor Elijah Wood (yes, they have a film out - the animated penguin comedy Happy Feet Two), plus Jennifer Saunders, who has recovered from breast cancer and is working on new episodes of Absolutely Fabulous to mark the sitcom's 20th anniversary next year. Music comes from JLS.

Graham Norton, Telegraph agony uncle and purveyor of uncouth - but very funny - humour, welcomes Britain's most successful pop star, the evergreen Sir Cliff Richard. The pair may not share a taste in comedy but I'm willing to bet Sir Cliff will be a good sport. He's promoting his Soulicious tour, which has three remaining dates. Joining him are Lord Sugar and comedian Micky Flanagan; also, X Factor judge Kelly Rowland performs her new single Down for Whatever.

Ricky Gervais and Johnny Depp make up on Graham Norton

Johnny Depp and Ricky Gervais have appeared together on The Graham Norton Show as the latter promotes his new sitcom, Life's Too Short, proving that the pair bear no grudges towards each other.