Graham Norton reveals secrets of 'chat choreography'

Graham Norton's biggest fear is pain. When I suggest this may be linked to the time when, still at drama school, he was brutally mugged, he offers a surprising answer.

You might have read that Jay-Z would be one of Graham's guests tonight, but he's dropped out and his spot has been taken by Jeremy Paxman, or Jay-P as we should maybe start calling him.

Trust me, you'll scarcely notice the difference. But could Jay-Z host tonight's very special round of University Challenge?

I think not.

Graham's other guests are Dame Judi Dench, comedian John Bishop and Sir Elton John, who will be performing his new single Voyeur as well chatting about his burst appendix, the joys of fatherhood and dancing with the Queen. A typical day in Elton-land.

While Jonathan Ross had to content himself interviewing stars of an ITV show last Saturday (the X Factor judges), Norton once again lures some global, glittery names on to his sofa.

His old mate, the indefatigable Sir Elton John, will perform Voyeur and be interviewed fresh from the triumphant release of his well-received 31st studio album, The Diving Board. He'll be joined by the mighty Dame Judi Dench, whose name is already being mentioned in the same breath as "Oscar nomination" for her role in the new film Philomena, as an Irish mother searching for the child she was forced to give up for adoption. Ever reliable John Bishop will be in the comedy corner.

Graham Norton interview

After stints as a comedian and as an actor in Father Ted, Graham Norton found his forte as a chat show host.

Hollywood glamour descends on Norton's soft furnishings as Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer chat about playing ex-mafiosos living under witness protection in The Family, Luc Besson's new gangster romp set in France.

Swooping in to join the happy throng are Cher, giving us a taste of new album Closer To The Truth, and home-grown comedy heroine Jennifer Saunders, who's just jotted down her life in a book - Bonkers: My Life In Laughs.

The Graham Norton Show has real A-list quality tonight

Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Cher and Jennifer Saunders make for a vintage line-up on the BBC One chat show.

You could play a game of consequences with Graham Norton's guests this week. Norton once shared screen time with guest Michelle Pfeiffer in a film called I Could Never Be Your Woman. Pfeiffer was of course in The Witches of Eastwick with Cher. And Jennifer Saunders once did a rather fine Cher impression/parody on her sketch show. Whether the guests will be sharing memories of all this may depend on whether they can stop the famously outgoing Robert De Niro from hogging the conversation.

As usual, Norton's bookers have activated their tractor beam to draw in the best celebrities. For a start, Paul McCartney is on the couch! Our greatest living songwriter (discuss) will talk about his new album, helpfully entitled New, and give us a sample - most likely the Beatles-y title track, which sounds like a breezy relative of Got to Get You into My Life.

At the other end of the pop spectrum is Katy Perry - she has a new album out soon. And let's not forget the actors: Natalie Portman talks about her role in Thor sequel, The Dark World and if that wasn't enough star wattage, James Corden drops by.

Graham Norton: 'Being gay is easy, being camp is hard'

From growing up a Protestant in the Republic of Ireland, Graham Norton has always seen himself as an outsider.

Now firmly ensconced in the Friday night post-news slot made desirable by Jonathan Ross, Norton has shown a similar ability to lure in the A-listers. The first episode of this latest run of his chatshow (series 14, if you're counting) is, oddly, an all-male affair, with Harrison Ford and Benedict Cumberbatch filling the Hollywood quota, and Jack Whitehall continuing his career-long tiptoe along the line between cheeky and thoroughly obnoxious. Maudlin strummy type James Blunt performs his new single.