On this week’s show (16th January), Graham welcomes freshly knighted actor Sir Idris Elba, Adolescence star Erin Doherty, award-winning actress Wunmi Mosaku, Sherlock star Martin Freeman, and the UK’s hottest new superstar singer-songwriter Olivia Dean.
Idris, talking about his knighthood, says, “I haven’t had the sword on the shoulder yet, but my wife is loving it.” Revealing how the honour almost passed him by, he says, “It’s a bit embarrassing. I was sent a consideration letter asking whether I would or wouldn’t accept it, but I didn’t see it as it got lost in a pile of post. My agent told me that if I didn’t accept it would pass me by. By the time I found the letter I had only two days to decide.”
Adding jokingly, “I got it for services to young people and I was thinking, ‘Hang on a minute, that’s great, but I’ve been acting for 30 years!’” It is actually a great honour, and my mum is so pleased.”
Asked about season two of his hostage thriller Hijack, he says, “The first season was a big hit and people bought into so we’re going to do it again. The story is about what happens next after the plane hijack. It’s a good old-fashioned thriller.”
Erin, talking about Adolescence and her Emmy speech, says, “My mum told me off for swearing. I didn’t mean to, but everyone looked so f**king stunning. I’ve promised her I won’t do it again!”
Chatting about the new series of Victorian drama A Thousand Blows, in which she uses her own voice for the first time in a production, she says, “Surprisingly I’ve never been able to use it before, so it was a real joy. When Stephen Graham heard I was being considered for the role he said, ‘I don’t think she is what we are looking for’ because he had only seen and heard me as Princess Anne in The Crown. He was delighted to find out I’m from Crawley!”
Wunmi, talking about starring in period horror movie Sinners, and asked when she knew it would be a hit, says, “I felt from the moment I read the first scene, with its depth and humanity, it was going to be amazing. It is romantic and beautiful, and my character exudes love and knowledge. I found out on the last day of filming that the part was written with me in mind. I had no idea. It is amazing.”
Revealing her love of acting stems from the musical Annie, she says, “I watched that film every single day after school. I’d press ‘play’ and the tears would start rolling. When I decided I wanted to act I went through the cast and found out how they became actors. As Albert Finney was from Manchester, I thought I would do what he did, so I auditioned for RADA and got it. I had never heard of drama school before that. Annie changed my whole life.”
Martin, talking about new TV series Agatha Christie's Seven Dials, says, “I didn’t know these characters as they are from the early novels. The story is set in a weird place in time. It is the Roaring Twenties, which was mired in the grief and loss of WW1. It has an authentic 20s voice that still feels good to our modern ears. It is funny and moving and was great fun to do.”
Asked about his impeccable scouse accent in The Responder, he says, “The acid test is pleasing people from that place and as long as no one wants to hurt me because it is bad, I am happy. I’m not a wanky actor, but I actually stayed in the accent all day. It’s a muscle and very physical and I didn’t want to watch it in a year’s time and be thinking ‘I could have worked harder.’”
Olivia Dean performs So Easy (To Fall In Love) live in the studio, before joining Graham for a chat.
And finally, Graham pulls the lever on more foolhardy audience members brave enough to sit in the world-famous Big Red Chair to tell their funniest stories.
The Graham Norton Show BBC One and iPlayer Friday 16th January 10.40pm
Next week (23rd January) Graham's guests include Anthony McPartlin, Declan Donnelly, Clare Foy, Joe Keery, and Tinie Tempah.
Picture Credit: BBC/So Television/The Graham Norton Show/Christopher Baines
