On Graham Norton's festive show (17th December), Graham welcomes actor and author Dame Joan Collins, Hollywood star and writer Stanley Tucci, TV chef and campaigner Jamie Oliver, comic Romesh Ranganathan, and singer songwriter Joy Crookes.
Joan, talking about the new BBC documentary This is Joan Collins, says “I was asked to do it several times before, but I would only do it if I could be in control and I didn’t want talking heads. There are interesting things in it because I met so many fascinating people. Some people think I am grand, but I am not, and you see me as I am, it’s very down to earth. I’ve seen it and it’s very entertaining.”
Talking about her time on Dynasty and tension on set with her co-star John Forsythe, she says, “I was in my 40s when I got the role, Linda (Evans) was in her 30s, and John was 62, but the press would go on about us as older women and never mentioned John’s age. There was so much ageism in Hollywood, so I’d bring it up in interviews and Mr Forsythe didn’t like it.
“Then when I accepted the People’s Choice award before he could, he refused to speak and walked off stage. He didn’t speak to me for a whole season after that and when I had to do a scene where he was supposed to try and strangle me, I insisted on having a stand-in!”
Stanley talking about his book My Life Through Food, says, “I am not an expert at all and write about all sorts of things like my grandparents sieving tomatoes through pillowcases, bottling them, and boiling them in a large barrel. I saw that when I was only five so don’t blame me if it doesn’t actually work!”
Asked about recovering from cancer, he says, “Everything tastes terrible for a long period of time, my mouth and throat were compromised by the way it was treated but I am fully recovered, and my sense of smell and taste have come back slowly but surely. My sense of taste is actually more acute now. Everything is regenerating and repairing. Your mouth is almost like a child’s and you’re experiencing everything anew.”
Jamie talking about the concept behind his new book Together: Memorable Meals Made Easy, says, “It’s all about finally being allowed to be back together again with friends and family after the last two years. The food is really important but it’s about being with people you love the most and having a laugh.”
Asked about being a free-range turkey farmer, he says, “I’m in my second year of doing it and I try and do it properly. I would walk through and check on them, talk and sing to them. It was a lot of fun. When they gobble it’s like an away team, it’s like surround sound and very loud.”
Demonstrating his own expert gobble, he encourages the audience to gobble back.
Ramesh, talking about being the host of the new series of The Weakest Link, which airs tomorrow night, he says, “I am slightly nervous about it because I was really unsure about doing it. I didn’t see myself as a quiz show host and it wasn’t on my list of things I thought I was ever going to do. But it is The Weakest Link, such a bulletproof format, which everyone loves so it is exciting.”
Asked if he is mean to contestants, he says, “I am just myself, not playing a character but if anyone one says anything humiliating, I will point it out but in an affectionate way.”
Revealing he hasn’t adopted Anne Robinson’s iconic wink, Ramesh says, “I have been teased about it a lot online and we’ve spent hours discussing whether I should do it or something else like a wave, a blink, or jazz hands. We have talked more about that than anything else and discussed what is the show and what is Anne. I didn’t want to steal anything from her, so I do something other than a wink, but it’s probably not as good as I’ve now made it sound.”
Joy performs Feet Don’t Fail Me Now live in the studio before joining Graham for a chat.
Talking about the success of her debut album, she says, “I was over the moon. I was up against people like The Beatles and Adele so it’s amazing!”
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 17th December 10.35pm, and available on BBC iPlayer.
The Graham Norton Show returns on New Year’s Eve with a stellar line up including, Jessica Chastain, Claire Foy, Peter Dinklage, Michael Sheen, Cush Jumbo, Joe Lycett, and The Divine Comedy.
Graham Norton Picture: BBC/So Television
