On the first show of 2024 (5th January), Graham welcomes The Crown star Dominic West, actors Michelle Keegan and Jacob Anderson, comic and presenter Alan Carr, and American singer-songwriter Teddy Swims.
Dominic, talking about starring in Arthur Miller’s masterpiece A View From The Bridge, and asked why he wanted to do it, says, “It was the end of The Crown, we were on strike, and I wanted to do something. Michael Gambon (who played the same role) had just died and the memory of him doing it was seminal. When I read the lines, I could hear him. It’s a big part, a great part.”
Asked about playing Prince Charles in The Crown, he says, “It really appealed to me. There was enormous pressure going into the series because it was so successful, but it was such a juicy role I couldn’t turn it down.”
Michelle, talking about the success of Netflix drama Fool Me Once, says, “It’s madness that it’s number one all over the world. I was always a huge fan of Harlan Coben books so when I got the call it was ‘Yes, absolutely,’ and I grabbed it with both hands.”
Asked about working with the great Dame Joanna Lumley, she says, “It was so much fun, and we laughed the whole way through. There were a lot of F-bombs dropped in the show, but I just couldn’t bring myself to swear at her in rehearsal. I was just so embarrassed to say the word.”
Talking about her time on Coronation Street, she says, “For me it was a massive learning platform. I took a long, long time to decide to leave – it was very hard. And then when they told me they were killing off my character and there was no going back I thought I would never work again. My security was ripped away which made me push forward and work harder.”
Jacob, talking about Interview With The Vampire, says, “We filmed in New Orleans, and they closed the streets. One night I had to drive five blocks through the French Quarter in a 1920s car and when we finished the scene, I told them I didn’t have a driving licence!”
Asked about his accent for the role he says, “They originally wanted me to do a French Creole accent that was around in the 20s, but it is strange and slow, and I don’t think anyone could sit through seven hours of that, so I just listened to people in New Orleans and copied them.”
Talking about the very sexy scenes in the show and asked if his family had seen them, he says, “They were okay with the sex, but they didn’t like the violence. It freaked them out.”
Alan, talking about his Regional Trinket tour, which is now being shown on TV, jokes, “I think the tour was cursed – it went on so long and during it I got divorced, my dog died, and we got covid. It seemed to go on forever.”
Asked about the return of BBC show Amanda Holden and Alan Carr’s Italian Job, he says, “This time the house was my choice – it’s a medieval townhouse in Tuscany. I think it is more emotional this time, but Amanda is just as bossy!”
Teddy performs Lose Control live in the studio before joining Graham for a chat.
Talking about his success, he says, “I am super grateful. I stand on the stage and get to trauma-dump in front of an audience. I have the best job in the world.”
And finally, Graham pulls the lever on more audience members brave enough sit in the world-famous red chair to tell their funniest stories.
The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday 5th January 10.40pm. Also available on BBC iPlayer.
Next week (12th January) Graham’s guests include Kevin Hart, Jodie Comer, Sofia Vergara, Alan Cumming, and Tom Odell.
Picture: So Television
