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
  • 494 episodes (31 series)

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

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Series 21, Episode 9 - Tom Cruise, Annabelle Wallis, Zac Efron, Beth Ditto

Tom Cruise remains tight lipped over the plot of Mission Impossible 6 whilst promising thrilling stunts, Annabelle Wallis says watching Peaky Blinders with her dad was rather awkward, Zac Efron talks about improvising with Dwayne Johnson and Beth Ditto performs live in the studio.

Preview clips

Further details

Tom Cruise, talking about the upcoming Mission Impossible 6 and what stunts he will be doing he reveals, "I have been in training for a couple of years and we've done a lot of testing to see what is possible." Asked about the plot, he says, "It is really crazy. We've shot some of the stuff in Paris already and it is going to be really wild and thrilling for the audience," adding intriguingly, "There is always another mountain."

Revealing even less about the return of the iconic Top Gun, he says, "It's happening next year."

Talking about working with some of the greatest names in Hollywood as a young actor including, Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman, Tom says, "They are legends and I learnt a tremendous amount from them, and as time has gone on it resonates more." Asked if they gave him specific advice, he says, "It was just a privilege to be on set and watch them - I was always the first to arrive and the last to leave - and they gave me to confidence to find my own voice in a character. I am very grateful to them."

Revealing that one of the best-loved scenes in Rain Man was totally improvised, he says, "We had spent two years developing the scene and when we were in the phone booth Hoffman leant against the door and passed gas. It was real and that was the take. I was grossed out and said, 'How can you do that - it's disgusting.' I tried to get out of the booth and everything I said was to him was real."

Talking about The Mummy, which he describes as, "A classic yarn," and asked why he wanted to do it, he says, "I loved all the old black and white original horror films which I wasn't allowed to watch as a kid. But, I was about six years old and saw all of them and was so terrified I had to sleep on the floor of my sister's bedroom."

Asked about the movie's stunts, which involved creating a real zero gravity environment, Tom says, "I had to convince the studio to let me do it and Annabelle and I had to do the scene 64 times! It took us two days and the crew was flying around and vomiting in between takes. You couldn't train for this. Normally stunts take months of prepping but we just did it. It was wild and I can't believe the studio actually let me do it!"

Annabelle Wallis, talking about the scene, added, "Can you imagine being cast with Tom Cruise? If you get any job you are excited but doing a stunt with him that he has never done before is just incredible." Adding, "And, not vomiting on him!"

Talking about preparing for the film, Annabelle says, "Tom and I went to the British Museum and I was showing off with my knowledge of Egyptology and I think I gave Tom the best day of his life..." Interrupting, Tom picks up the story, "We were in the room, which they shut down for us, and we are looking around, and talking about developing Alex, her character and there was no time to say, 'Stop!" as Annabelle ploughs straight into a glass wall. Everyone else saw the glass but not her and there was her character!"

Revealing that watching Peaky Blinders with her parents caused a rather embarrassing moment, Annabelle says, "I was in a sex scene and watching it with them was so awkward and afterwards my dad said, 'Well, we know where you get that from! Good girl!'"

Zac Efron, talking about filming a morgue scene for the upcoming film Baywatch, says, "We started the scene examining a body and out of nowhere Dwayne The Rock Johnson decided to improvise and told me, 'Look at the private parts and check for needle marks,' and I am thinking, 'That is not in the script!' and he got me looking at a great prosthetic penis and the proximity was so awkward. And, it's in the movie!"

Asked about meeting David Hasslehoff, he says: "I rushed to the set to meet him and when he shook my hand it was like a dream come true." And, on his grandparents seeing the movie, which possibly isn't appropriate for their demographic, he says, "They loved it and are really proud of anything I do."

Asked to recreate the horizontal pole hold he has posted pictures of himself doing online, Zac performs the move perfectly and says, when safely back on sofa, "I am so happy I can still do that."

Beth Ditto performs Fire live in the studio, before joining Graham for a chat about her album and upcoming tour.

Notes

Gal Gadot was originally billed to appear in this episode.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 2nd June 2017
Time
10:35pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
45 minutes
Recorded
  • Thursday 1st June 2017, 18:15 at The London Studios

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Monday 5th June 2017 11:30pm BBC1
Monday 5th June 2017 11:45pm BBC1 Scot

Cast & crew

Cast
Graham Norton Host / Presenter
Guest cast
Zac Efron Guest
Tom Cruise Guest
Annabelle Wallis Guest
Beth Ditto Guest
Writing team
Rob Colley Writer
Christine Rose Writer
Production team
Steve Smith Director
Jon Magnusson Series Producer
Pete Snell Producer
Vicky Taylor Producer
Kate Radcliffe Producer
Graham Stuart Executive Producer
Perry Widdowson Editor
Chris Webster Production Designer
Mandy Furlonger Make-up Designer
Chris Rigby Lighting Designer
Jonathan Whitehead (as Trellis) Composer

Videos

Zac Efron recreates Top Gun

Does Zac Efron want a part in the new Top Gun movie?

Featuring: Graham Norton, Zac Efron, Tom Cruise & Annabelle Wallis.

Tom Cruise dances

All the guests go wild!

Featuring: Graham Norton, Zac Efron, Tom Cruise & Annabelle Wallis.

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