Alan Carr talks to Graham Norton about winning Celebrity Traitors on the Graham Norton show this week.He says: "I really didn’t know what I was doing or how I did it." This week's show also features Oscar-winner Kate Winslet, former New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern, US talk show host Seth Meyers, and singer songwriter Cat Burns.
Kate, talking about her new Christmas movie Goodbye June, which she directs and stars in, says, “My wonderful son wrote it. He did a screen-writing course and was encouraged to write from the heart and the most significant thing that had happened to him was the loss of his grandmother when he was 13. When I read it, I said, ‘You’ve written a film and we are going to make it.’ I knew I couldn’t let it go so now at 50 years old I am a director. It was an extraordinary experience.”
Asked about Dame Helen Mirren having initial doubts about being in the film, Kate says, “When I was telling her about the film she said, ‘I am going to stop you because I have two personal rules. I will not play anyone with dementia or anyone with cancer.’ She still asked to see the script, and then she sent me an email saying she was breaking her own rule because it was such a wonderful project.”
And, on being in the third instalment of Avatar: Fire and Ash, she says, “I can’t say anything about it, but I do get to hold my breath underwater again and this time I fight underwater too. It was hard and I never quite mastered it.”
Jacinda, talking about her documentary film Prime Minister, which tells the story of her five-year tenure as Prime Minister of New Zealand, says, “When we started filming, we didn’t know what it would be, nor did we have any clear idea what would happen. My husband is a broadcaster and being in such proximity to everything he thought he should capture it. Only he could have helped create what it is because I would never have let anyone else film me as consistently in my pyjamas.
“It has created, I hope, a story that shows what it is like to lead. And a story that says you can lead differently than perhaps what we see in the world today.”
Asked if it is a hard watch for her, she says, “It was a hard run and New Zealand went through a lot, yet I would still do it again. I wanted to do everything we had set out to do but leadership is what happens in between, it’s what you do when you face a crisis. I am proud of what we did.”
Asked what her relationship with New Zealand is like now she says, “I do go back every summer, and it will always be home.”
And, on whether she would get involved in politics again, she says, “I did it for 15 years – I have done my bit. Now it’s for the next generation.”
Seth, talking about his late-night chat show and the recent appearance of his children, says, “Once a year on Thanksgiving it’s hard to book guests so I chat to my parents and brother. This year I decided to bring on my three young kids. They didn’t know they were going to be on the show, and I had no idea what they would say. It was six minutes and turned out to be the most white-knuckle interview I have ever done.” Adding, “Recently my eldest son asked me, ‘When you die, do I get your show?’”
Talking about Saturday Night Live, and the UK version, which launches next year, he says, “I am involved. I had doubts about it at first, but having spent a week here meeting potential writers and cast, it is very exciting. There are so many young funny people and a great comedic skill set here. I think it is going to be great.”
Alan, talking about The Celebrity Traitors, and asked if he was surprised he had won, he says, “I was really proud that I was outwitting all these clever people, but I really didn’t know what I was doing or how I did it. I could have worn the cloak to breakfast and still no one would have thought it was me. What more could I have done?”
Asked by Kate about how the traitors were chosen, he demonstrates Claudia’s selection process, adding, “I almost chewed through my lip when she picked me.”
Talking about Paloma Faith and asked if she has got over his betrayal he says, “Yes. I’ve seen her. It was very harsh and so grim killing her, but we are friends again now.”
Asked about his 2027 tour Have I Said Too Much, he says, “I am a very slow writer. I wanted to call it National Traitor, but I must stop milking it! I have no theme, but every three years I love the freedom of touring.”
Cat performs There's Just Something About Her from her album How To Be Human live in the studio before joining Graham for a chat.
Reunited with her fellow Traitor and asked about the moment they both voted for Jonathan to be banished, she says, “I was running with the Big Dog theory so once Stephen was gone, I had to vote for Jonathan. I think it was a shock that Alan voted for him.”
Alan interjects, “I had no idea what I was doing.”
The Graham Norton Show BBC One and iPlayer Friday 5th December 10.40pm
Next week (12th December) Graham’s guests include Timothée Chalamet, Emma Thompson, Rowan Atkinson, Edward Enninful, and JADE.
Picture: BBC/So Television/The Graham Norton Show/Christopher Baines
