Ewan McGregor remains tight-lipped about Trainspotting 2, Danny DeVito says old age gives you carte blanche to say what you want, Sam Neill reveals he wasn’t asked to do Jurrassic World, Miranda Hart says her dog has got her into trouble, John Bishop reveals he hires stage crew according to their football skills, and Amber Riley performs live in the studio
On tonight’s show (Friday 7th October) Graham welcomes British star Ewan McGregor, legendary actor, producer and director Danny DeVito, Jurassic Park star Sam Neill, comedian and actress Miranda Hart, top comic John Bishop and American actress and singer Amber Riley.
Ewan, talking about his new movie American Pastoral and the length of time it took to get made, he says, “I thought it would never happen. There had been other directors attached but it didn’t work out. Then my wife said I should direct it. I spent a whole day soul searching asking myself if I could do it. I went for it and it was a brilliant thing. I loved it.” Asked if his co-stars ever doubted his directing abilities, he says, “I hope not, but they are good actors!”
Asked about the new Trainspotting, he says, “We’ve shot it. I can’t say much but I can tell you is that we did it and it was fun.” Adding, “20 years later being those people again was just fantastic. It was great.” Talking about filming he says, “No body knew who we were the first time and this time it was unbelievable. We had a scene on Princes Street in Edinburgh with cranes and everything – you could really tell the budget was different from the first one, which we did for about fifty quid. This one was a bit more than that! It was bonkers!”
Talking about their friendship and how they like to jam together, Ewan and Sam perform a duet on Ukuleles.
Sam, talking about his new film Hunt for the Wilderpeople, he says, “It is a little movie that came from nowhere. It is heartwarming, a sort of a road movie without roads – we don’t have many in New Zealand. People are nicer to me in New Zealand as a result of this because the last time they saw me was as a psychopath in Peaky Blinders and they avoided me!”
Despite his Irish roots, Sam says speaking with a Belfast accent inPeaky Blinders was “A tall order.” Adding, “I did consult Liam Neeson and Jimmy Nesbitt because they are obviously to the manor born. I got a couple of lessons from them which was great but they were brought up just 10 miles from each other and speak with completely different voices so I thought I would just relax and do my own thing.”
Asked why he’s ruled out returning to Jurassic World, he reveals, “I didn’t rule it out, they just didn’t call me. It’s fine. I’ve been doing other things. Someone asked me the other day and I said, ‘I don’t know what’s happened to Alan Grant. He could be dead, he could be in therapy or he might be an accountant in Des Moines – nobody knows what’s happened to him.’”
Paying tribute to the original Jurassic Park, Sam and Miranda re-enact the scene where the characters first see a Dinosaur, with John providing visual aids and Ewan on sound effects.
Miranda, talking about her new book Peggy and Me reveals a particularly embarrassing situation caused by her beloved pooch, “I was staying with a friend whose garden is on an island. I was exploring and discovered a Jacuzzi and got in with just my pants on. I then heard frantic barking from Peggy. Fearing the worst I dashed out of the Jacuzzi to find her. I was half way across the bridge with no clothes on when I looked down and there was a group of 12-year olds kayaking. I decided I could run or style it out. I decided on the latter, grabbed Peggy and used her to cover my breasts!”
John, talking about his upcoming (2017) stage tour Winging It, reveals, “Touring can be lonely so we play five a side team against the venues. I pick the stage crew depending on their ability to play football. If you come to the tour and the lighting is bad, he’s a very good goal keeper and if the sound doesn’t work, he’s a great left back.”
Danny joins Graham for a chat. Talking about his new short film Curmudgeons and the joys of old age, says, “It gives you carte blanche to say anything you want.” Asked how old he was when he started being outspoken, he says, “I have always felt that way from being a kid. I was really young and could get away with anything. I came from an Italian family – it was very big and very boisterous. They said anything they wanted and didn’t hold back. It was glorious!”
Amber performs And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going live in the studio before joining Graham for a chat about her West End debut in Dreamgirls.
And finally, Graham pulls the lever on more foolhardy audience members brave enough to sit in the Red Chair.
The Graham Norton Show, BBC One,7th October10.35pm
Pictures are available from PA
Notes to editors – all quotes in this release were said during the recording but won’t necessarily appear in the final show.
Next week (14thOctober) Graham’s guests include: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Chris O’Dowd and Niall Horan.
For further information please contact Mary Collins 07769 670516 or at
7th October 2016