On this week’s show (28th February) guest host Claudia Winkleman welcomes Hollywood star Chris Pratt, British actors Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Toby Jones, comedian Rob Beckett, and singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri.
Chris, talking about his new sci-fi comedy drama The Electric State, says, “It is epic with truly stunning imagery. I had wanted to turn it down because I’d just finished a busy season of work and had been away for a while. We have four kids, so I wanted to take an extended period off but when my wife read the script, she said I had to do it. She either really loves me or she actually just wanted me out of the house again!”
Asked about his father-in-law Arnold Schwarzenegger, he says, “He is a big cigar smoker – he’s always smoking one on set, in his car, and in my living room. When we have a baby, he shows up with a Cuban cigar. I have asthma so I should not ever smoke cigars, but I do because I feel pressure from Arnold Schwarzenegger. So, every time I have a child, I have a cigar and about a week later I have a lung infection. It’s a nice little ritual we have!”
Saoirse, talking about her new BBC drama series This City is Ours, says, “It’s a story of family and how it can be corrupted by ambition, but really it’s a love letter from our director Stephen Butchard to Liverpool.”
Asked about Derry Girls, she says, “Talk about luck. I came straight out of drama school into a show about where I am from. It was incredible. It is such an amazing show, and I am so proud of it and so proud of Lisa (McGee) and everything she has achieved with it. She has shone a light on where I am from in such a positive way, and we have travelled so far with it.”
Toby, talking about starring as Richard Burton's teacher in Mr Burton, says, “It was strange playing a real person – I was sort of relieved he wasn’t around, but I was so pleased the Burton family were so happy with it.”
Asked about Mr Bates vs The Post Office and the impact the series had, he says, “It was an extraordinary honour to play a proper hero. It is a great thing he has been knighted because he shows humility, determination, and resourcefulness. The challenge was playing a man who was not interested in promoting himself. He is a phenomenal guy.” Adding about the current situation, “There are people dying before they are paid the compensation, they are due – this thing just has to stop.”
Rob, talking about the new series of panel game Rob Beckett’s Smart TV, says, “We just have a quiz, mess around and have a laugh. The good thing about having Alison Hammond on the show is that you can never feel underprepared because Alison has done absolutely nothing! She is so good and just amazing.”
Asked about his new tour and why he chose to call is Giraffe, he says, “I explain why it’s called that at the end of the show but also, I thought it was quite a good image to help the drive to sell tickets. I went to the Brit awards as a giraffe because I thought no one would care about a 39-year-old comedian at such a cool event. When I walked on to the red carpet it was like the paparazzi scene in Notting Hill!”
Rachel performs her single All I Ever Asked live in the studio before joining Claudia for a chat about her album, going on tour, and her Brit nominations.
And finally, Claudia, with the help of Chris, pulls the lever on more foolhardy audience members brave enough sit in the world-famous Big Red Chair to tell their funniest stories.
The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday 28th February 10.40pm. Also available on BBC iPlayer.
Next week (7th March) Graham introduces a compilation of highlights from the recent series, featuring a host of stars including Demi Moore, Timothée Chalamet, Cher, Denzel Washington, Nicole Kidman, Dwayne Johnson, Zoe Saldaña, Hugh Grant, Jennifer Lopez, Bruce Springsteen, Cynthia Erivo, Kieran Culkin, Ariana Grande, Daniel Craig, Kate Winslet, Colman Domingo, Keira Knightley, Andrew Garfield and many more.
Graham Norton will be back in the autumn with a new series of show.
Picture: BBC/So Television/PA Media/Matt Crossick
