This week (10th November), Graham welcomes hip-hop superstar Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Scottish actor Ashley Jensen, 1917 star George MacKay, comedy couple Chris and Rosie Ramsey, and singer Jessie Ware.
Diddy, talking about his new R&B offering, The Love Album: Off the Grid, his first album in13 years, says, “I like to take my time! I went through a healing journey and stopped making music and stopped being creative. I was on a low frequency and then one day God told me it was time, and I started making music again. And the one thing that was missing was R&B baby-making music, it’s the soundtrack to your sex life.”
Describing the music as the “Superbowl of soul,” he says, “It is deliberately and unapologetically sexy.”
Explaining his various name changes, and why he has now added ‘Love’ to his name, he says, “My real life is my art and there have been many eras. There’s been the Puff Diddy era, the P Diddy era, and then the Diddy era, but now this is the ultimate goal, I have become Love. We live in a toxic world with love versus hate and I chose Love. It’s my new name and love wins!”
And, on performing with his son and twin daughters, he says, “It was surreal but it’s a privilege and a blessing. I am living the dream.”
Ashley, talking about her new lead role in the hit BBC crime show Shetland, and asked if her character will be returning after the current series ends, says, “I have no idea how it will continue. I don’t know if there will be another after it, so I just literally treated it as a six-part series. I didn’t think about the series before because if you start comparing yourself to someone whose done seven seasons of it, you’ll end up tying yourself in knots and worrying your brain about it.”
Asked about Shetland itself, she says, “It’s got this almost strange mythical quality about it. It’s a startling landscape that doesn’t feel real – it’s stark, bleak, and beautiful all at the same time.”
George, talking about his erotic revenge thriller Femme, and his character’s tattooed appearance, says, “The tattoos were extreme and really helped unlock the character for me.”
Revealing his temporary tattooed appearance made him feel different in real life, he explains, “They lasted for about three days, so I had to wear them out. I was on my way to work in a cab and a fight broke out between two moped riders. I got out and helped break it up. When they saw my tattoos, they backed down. What they didn’t see was that the ‘ink’ was all flaking off and looked just like party bag tattoos!”
Chris and Rosie Ramsey, talk about the huge success of their hit podcast Shagged. Married. Annoyed., Rosie says, “We now hold the world record for the largest live podcast which is phenomenal.”
Jessie Ware performs Hello Love live in the studio before joining Graham for a chat about her new album and upcoming tour.
The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday 10th November 10.40pm. Alsoavailable on BBC iPlayer.
Next week (17th November) Children in Need is on BBC One. Graham returns on 24th November when his guests include Jennifer Saunders, Daisy Haggard, Michael Fassbender, and Take That.
Picture: BBC/So Television/Christopher Baines
