British Comedy Guide
The Graham Norton Show. Graham Norton. Credit: So Television, Christopher Baines
The Graham Norton Show

The Graham Norton Show

  • TV chat show
  • BBC One / BBC Two
  • 2007 - 2024
  • 514 episodes (32 series)

Comic chat show presented by Graham Norton. The biggest names in showbiz join the host on his sofa.

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Series 17, Episode 9 - Samuel L Jackson, Stephen Merchant, Amy Schumer, Muse

Samuel L Jackson reveals he was once a cheerleader; Amy Schumer talks about her red carpet slip up; Stephen Merchant says nudity on stage is uncalled for; and Muse perform live in the studio.

Preview clips

Further details

Samuel L Jackson, talking about acting with Stephen Merchant, who directed him in Extras, says, "I turn up, I know my lines, I hit my mark and then I leave. But, I have lots of fun in between."

Talking about his college years and his method for meeting women, he reveals, "I became a cheerleader but it wasn't just to meet a woman, I wanted to travel all the places the team went to meet women." Asked if he had a pompom, he says, "I had megaphones and just called out to the girls who then danced. I went to an all boys school and I was the only volunteer to be a cheerleader that year!"

Continuing the romantic theme, he says, "My wife is very direct. We had been living together 10 years and I just came in one day and she gave me our wedding invitation and said, 'Be there.' I was there. I did not miss it!"

Talking about a recent royal encounter, he says, "I was at the polo and met Prince Harry. We talked for a minute. He was so nice to me and he and his brother took me to a party. It was cool."

Amy Schumer, revealing why she decided to fake a fall on the red carpet, says, "I was invited as one of the Time 100 most influential people even though no one here has heard of me! I was on the red carpet doing interviews and the journalists were looking past me to see if someone more important was behind me. So all the reporters went crazy for Kim and Kanye and I've always thought falling over is the funniest thing, so I took a dive in front of them. I couldn't help myself. They didn't crack a smile which confirms they had no idea who I was, which is a relief!"

Talking about her new movie Trainwreck, she says, "I wrote it but not originally for myself. I thought they would get some beautiful actress in, but they asked me to do it as long as I did three things - be myself, have fun, and stop eating food! They got me a trainer and when he asked what I ate in a day he stopped me at noon because he had heard enough!"

Stephen, talking about his 6'7" frame, says, "I have developed different walks for different environments. I recently went to the doctor who told me to stop bending down when I go through a doorway because I will get curvature of the spine, so now I bend at the knees to go through." While demonstrating his technique, Amy suggests limbo might be an alternative technique, as would leaning back Matrix-style.

Asked if he is an expert at meeting women, Stephen says, "No, no, no. I've learnt nothing over the years. Actually, I am a bit better now because I'm a bit more confident than I was, but my height makes everything so awkward."

Talking about his West End debut in The Mentalists, Stephen reveals "it is essentially my first play. It's a little scary but I've done stand-up and I've been on telly so I'm thinking put that all together and how hard can it be. I'm assuming you can take the script on stage!"

Admitting he hadn't read the script properly when he accepted the role, he jokes, "I'm an actor now and that means I just check how many lines I have to say! I agreed to do it and then someone tweeted me to say, 'I've read the play, are you going to be doing the nudity?' And, apparently I am meant to be naked, but I won't be doing that. I don't care how classy a theatregoer you are, if someone is naked on stage people will not be listening to the lines! I'm not sure it's called for. I don't even like being naked at home!"

Muse perform Mercy live in the studio before joining Graham for a chat about their new album.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 5th June 2015
Time
10:35pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
60 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Graham Norton Host / Presenter
Guest cast
Stephen Merchant Guest
Samuel L. Jackson Guest
Amy Schumer Guest
Matthew Bellamy (as Muse) Guest
Christopher Wolstenholme (as Muse) Guest
Dominic Howard (as Muse) Guest
Writing team
Rob Colley Writer
Dan Gaster Writer
Production team
Steve Smith Director
Jon Magnusson Series Producer
Rina Dayalji Producer
Pete Snell Producer
Graham Stuart Executive Producer
Catherine Strauss Line Producer
Perry Widdowson Editor
Chris Webster Production Designer
Lindsey McLean Costume Designer
Mandy Furlonger Make-up Designer
Chris Rigby Lighting Designer
Jonathan Whitehead (as Trellis) Composer
Kerry Hussain Graphics

Videos

Amy Schumer's red carpet shenanigans

Graham jokes with Amy Schumer about throwing herself on the red carpet.

Featuring: Graham Norton & Amy Schumer.

Stephen Merchant's Golden Globes photo

Graham jokes with Stephen Merchant about his photo at the Golden Globes.

Featuring: Graham Norton & Stephen Merchant.

Samuel L. Jackson's selfies

Graham looks at a couple of selfies Samuel L. Jackson has taken.

Featuring: Graham Norton & Samuel L. Jackson.

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