Radio Times review

Our Graham's known for putting together quite the celebrity sofa to ring in the New Year and with 2016 imminent, he doesn't disappoint. Local lad done good Eddie Redmayne (who joined Norton on the sofa this time last year too) is back for another night of New Year magic alongside Hollywood's Queen of 2015, Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence.

Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are making up the numbers as they drop by to talk about their latest film comedy, Daddy's Home, and music makers Years & Years join the merry bunch in the studio to sing out 2015 with their hit song, Shine.

Radio Times review

The Force Awakens is here! Surely you've seen it already? If not, build the excitement still further with a sofa full of Star Wars stars. Carrie Fisher, the original Princess Leia - back for the new movie, albeit no longer as merely a princess, but as General Leia - is on the show, which is good news given her fondness for talking bluntly and frankly.

Her younger co-stars John Boyega and Daisy Ridley might be more circumspect, although Boyega has shown great wit and equanimity in the face of a few crackpots who think a story about spaceships and aliens shouldn't feature black actors.

Also chatting, and singing: Kylie Minogue.

Tonight's guests include Quentin Tarantino and Kurt Russell, touting their ensemble western The Hateful Eight. Tina Fey joins Amy Poehler to promote their new flick, Sisters, which they didn't write but, judging by the trailer, they should have done. Music comes from Sia, who will perform her new single from behind the now customary face curtain.

Ever adept at attracting top-line talent, Graham welcomes Thor star Chris Hemsworth and director Ron Howard (Apollo 13) to his sofa. The duo plug cinematic epic In the Heart of the Sea, based on Nathaniel Philbrick's account of the real-life whaling expedition that inspired Moby-Dick. Lily Tomlin, tipped for an Oscar for her role in Grandma, also guests, as does comedian Kevin Bridges. Blake and Dame Shirley Bassey, who have collaborated on a new Christmas single, provide the musical entertainment.

7 times Benedict Cumberbatch was the best guest

7 times Benedict Cumberbatch proved he's the best Graham Norton guest.

Radio Times review

Maggie Smith doesn't need to do chat shows, so she usually doesn't. The latest coup for Graham Norton is that he's persuaded Smith to grace a TV sofa for the first time in 42 years, to discuss her new film, Alan Bennett's The Lady in the Van - and to discuss the end of Downton Abbey, no doubt.

Alongside the Dame are her co-star Alex Jennings; Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, the two leads in new chef drama Burnt; and the ever-regal Cindy Crawford, who's 50 next year and has a coffee-table photo-memoir out. Justin Bieber more or less provides music.

Radio Times review

The stars of Steve Jobs, the Danny Boyle film about the co-founder of Apple that closed the recent London Film Festival, are on Graham's sofa this evening. It's unlikely that we'll see a repeat of Michael Fassbender's wonderfully cool dance to Blurred Lines that he did when he was on the show with his X Men co-stars 18 months ago - unless it happens to be a favourite tune of Kate Winslet's, too. Also on the bill is Brooklyn star Julie Walters - a regular guest on the show because she is always such terrific value - as well as rapper 50 Cent.

Dame Maggie Smith to appear on The Graham Norton Show

It's been 42 years since Dame Maggie Smith has appeared on a British chat show, but the Downton Abbey star has now announced she will go on The Graham Norton Show this October.

10 of the best The Graham Norton Show moments

Red Chair antics, headstands and funky dancing, Norton's guests sure know how to put on a show.

Five For Friday: Favourite Graham Norton Moments

The 18th series of The Graham Norton Show will be premiering tonight on BBC One in the UK and on October 3rd on BBC America.

So in observance of the return of this perennial favorite, I am featuring five of the most memorable moments I can recall from past shows...