On this week's show (Friday, 22nd October), Graham Norton welcomes Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne, Irish actress Jessie Buckley, comedian and writer Stephen Merchant, Strictly star Motsi Mabuse, and national treasure Sir Ian McKellen, with music from Elton John and Charlie Puth.
Eddie and Jessie chat about their new West End show Cabaret.
Asked how the musical differs from the film and previous stage show, Eddie says, “They are both beautiful and extraordinary, but Jessie and I love the musical so decided to investigate it in a different way. It’s properly immersive for the audience, you really feel like you are in the Kit Kat Club in Berlin.”
Jessie adds, “It’s been so fun, and the company is amazing, the director is amazing, and Eddie is alright!”
Eddie, talking about his grandma says, “She is nearly 100 and not able to come and see the show, so I went to her care home with the karaoke version of the musical and performed the whole thing for her – even Jessie’s parts. She definitely dropped off – she said she was closing her eyes because she was enjoying it so much!”
Jessie, talking about her upcoming movie The Lost Daughter, in which she plays the younger version of Olivia Colman’s character, admits, “We had such a good time, but we never actually worked together. We had a four-day cross over and we would drink rosé and have a huge sing-song, which was great until it was six o’clock and you had to go to work!”
Motsi, talking about Strictly and her fellow judges, says, “We are all having so much fun with Anton and I am really happy he is there.”
Asked about same sex couples and contestants with disabilities, she says, “It is beautiful to see the show opening up and being so inclusive and I am glad it is moving with the times.”
Cheekily asked about her sister Oti winning two out of the three shows she has judged, she jokes, “Yes, I planned it all! It is funny that people think I have power of that, but not yet! I actually don’t look at her, I focus on the celebrity so I don’t feel bad, but after the show I might say to her, ‘Not bad’ or ‘Well done!’”
Stephen, talking about his new BBC series The Outlaws, and asked about working with Christopher Walken, he says, “I never thought for a moment growing up in Bristol that one day I would be making TV and would be sitting with the Oscar-winning star of The Deer Hunter. It was one of those incredibly surreal experiences.”
Describing his role in the series, he jokes, “I really stretched myself. I play an awkward middle-aged gangly nerd – you may as well get BAFTA on the phone now because it is quite a performance!”
Ian, revealing a bald head and talking about his new play, The Cherry Orchard, says, “I play a very old man so shaved off my hair – eat your heart out Patrick Stewart!” Joking about his role as an elderly retainer, he says, “It the part you usually play at the end of your career.”
Reminded he has just played the rather youthful role of Hamlet, he says, “The funny thing is, when I was doing that, I was running up and down stairs and I felt fit as a fiddle. Now I am playing an old fellow, I come off stage aching all over!”
Revealing that when he needs cheering up, he watches the episode of Extras he appeared in, he says, “It is one of the best scripts I have ever had to learn and perform – the laughs fall out of you because of the way it was written. When I watch it, I laugh my head off!”
Stephen, interjects, “It was one of my proudest moments. It was the first time I had worked with an actor of Ian’s calibre – it was a joy.”
In a pre-recorded segment, Elton John and Charlie Puth perform After All from Elton's new album The Lockdown Sessions.
Asked if he had been intending to produce an album during the lockdown, Elton says, “No, not at all – I was going to do nothing! Charlie asked me to do it and then when I was back in England other people wanted to do songs and it just grew and grew until I had a germ of an album.”
Revealing Elton had given him some advice, Charlie says, “He wrote in the front of his autobiography, ‘Charlie, don’t do any of this!’”
Asked if he will be touring soon again, Elton says, “This leg of the tour was postponed because my leg isn’t working – I need a hip replacement. Hopefully in a couple of months I will be raring to go again.”
And finally, Graham pulls the lever on more foolhardy audience members brave enough to sit in The Big Red Chair.
The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday 22nd October and available on BBC iPlayer.
Next week (29th October) Graham’s guests include Dame Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Salma Hayek Tinie Tempah, and Jesy Nelson.
Graham Norton picture: BBC/So Television/Christopher Baines
