Graham Norton is back, in more ways than one…
Having pretty much solely commanded the Friday night chat show circuit as far as Irish viewers are concerned for the last few weeks, The Late Late Show has some competition for at least part of its running time this week.
That’s right, Graham Norton is back and in more ways than one.
While his own show will be returning for the first episode of a new season on BBC One, Graham himself will be one of the guests in a very decent line-up on The Late Late Show.
In case you didn’t know, Graham’s BBC show is recorded prior to it going out on Friday nights so it will actually be him and not a clone of himself chatting to Ryan about spending this summer in West Cork and his attachment to the area where he grew up.
Fellow television royalty Sharon Horgan, creator of acclaimed shows such as Catastrophe and Divorce, will also be making an appearance, discussing the importance of supporting up and coming writers in the TV business and reminiscing on growing up on a turkey farm in Meath.
Following the sad death of RTÉ news anchor Keelin Shanley in February, her husband Conor Ferguson will chat to Ryan about her legacy and her posthumous memoir, A Light That Never Goes Out, which is published tomorrow.
As well as that, The Hothouse Flowers will put on a special performance in Keelin’s memory.
On the medical side of things, Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin Luke O’Neill will breakdown the latest Covid-19 figures, while Dr Marie Cassidy will reflect on 20 years as a Chief State Pathologist and her role in detecting some of the most heinous crimes ever committed in Ireland.
Gavin James will also be along to perform his latest single, Boxes.
Over on BBC One, meanwhile, Graham Norton will be joined by the one and only Dolly Parton, who will be calling on video from the US.
Also joining Graham remotely will be Riz Ahmed, who you may remember from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story or the excellent HBO series, The Night Of.
Actor Rupert Everett and comedians Lolly Adefope and Sara Pascoe will be in studio with Graham, but will be spaced out on individual chairs as opposed to the usual couch arrangement to ensure social distancing.
Putting the cherry on top will be the excellent Róisín Murphy, who will be performing her single, ‘Murphy’s Law’.
The Late Late Show airs on RTÉ One at 9.35pm, while you can catch The Graham Norton Show on BBC One at 10.45pm.
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