Next Week On The Graham Norton Show – 4 December 2018

Graham Norton meets Geraint Thomas, Nicole Kidman, Stephen Fry, Joe Lycett and Take That

Nicole Kidman reveals how she went method for Destroyer, Stephen Fry talks about Greek Myths, Joe Lycett jokes about coming out, Geraint Thomas talks cycling and Take That perform live in the studio

Geraint Thomas, Nicole Kidman, Stephen Fry, Graham Norton, Joe Lycett, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen during the filming of the Graham Norton Show at BBC Studioworks 6 Television Centre, Wood Lane, London.

On The Graham Norton Show, airing Tuesday, 4 December on BBC Brit (DStv 120) at 21:00, Graham welcomes Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman, actor and writer Stephen Fry, comedian Joe Lycett, Olympic and Tour de France cycling champion Geraint Thomas and pop superstars Take That.

Nicole, talking about her latest film, Destroyer, says, “It’s really a tough, gritty film, which is something I’d never done and I am always looking for new territory to explore. And, when you are cast to play the older character you don’t usually get to play the younger, but a great thing as an actor is when you get to play both. It was a gift to be able to arc out the whole story for the character.”

Asked about taking her broken, damaged character home with her, she says, “My husband was like, ‘When is this going to end?’ As an actor, you take on things and some you can shed and walk away from and others you can’t. The character had to seep out of my pores and I didn’t know how to perform that, so I just had to live it. I was a bit of a nightmare!”

Stephen, asked about his love-hate relationship with Twitter, says, “I am on it but the difference now is that I don’t engage with it very much because of the comments and the unkindness. I am very sensitive. It’s pathetic after all these years, but I am.”

Talking about Heroes, his second book of Greek Myths, and asked about the success of the first, he says, “It was a huge surprise to me and I was delighted.”

Joe, talking about coming out to his father, says, “I came out on my 21st birthday and he was just so lovely about it and said, ‘That’s fine and as long as you are happy, I really don’t mind.’  I was sort of annoyed about it because I wanted there to be a battle so I tried to escalate it by saying I was taking drugs and all he said was, ‘Don’t tell your mother!’”

Geraint joins Graham for a chat about his book, The Tour According to G

Talking about the long journey to becoming a champion, he says, “10 years ago I did my first Tour de France and came 140th out of 141.  I beat one guy!   Road cycling is all about endurance so I’m coming into my peak now.” Asked if he ever dreamed of the success he has had, he says, “I definitely thought I would never wear the yellow jersey. That first race was just about survival. You just keep going and before you know it you’re in Paris. It was insane.”

Asked about the injuries he has sustained cycling, he says, “I’ve broken lots of bones and ruptured my spleen. When I broke my pelvis I just carried on. The doctor said, ‘If you can put up with the pain, then crack on.’ I had to because I had been training all year and I was part of a team so couldn’t let them down.”

Take That performs Greatest Day live in the studio, before joining Graham for a chat about their 30th anniversary album and tour.

Chatting about their live shows and asked if they will top all the other shows they have done or whether it’s a combination of everything, Mark, giving very little away, says, “Yeah and yeah!’ Adding, “But, it will include some songs we haven’t performed for a long time.”

Asked if it’s a farewell tour, Gary says, “Let’s hope not! This feels like end of part two to us. Part one was the 90s and part two is three decades of music. Then, after this, we can get excited about what’s next.”

Howard, revealing he’s still the master of the moves, says, “I can still breakdance and do backflips. Whenever we go on tour we like to challenge ourselves and it would feel a bit strange if we didn’t come off stage and not be sweaty.” Mark interjects, “I don’t think the insurance allows for backflips anymore!”

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 Brit, Tuesday, 4 December 21:00.

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb