The Graham Norton Show - Series 27, Episode 7 - Katy Perry, Steve Carell, Dakota Johnson, Alan Carr, John Legend - British Comedy Guide (original) (raw)

Katy Perry talks about her pregnancy; Steve Carell says his new series mirrors real life; Alan Carr reveals that living on a farm isn't quite what he imagined; Dakota Johnson talks about playing an underdog; and John Legend performs live.

Katy Perry joins Graham to chat about her new single Daisy.

Asked what it is like being in lockdown with several young children, pregnant Katy says, "I'm learning to be a mum fast. Kids gravitate towards me through my music, so I am used to them, but I am not used to being woken up really early in the morning by them staring at me from the side of my bed!"

Talking about her new single, she says, "It is a simple message of staying true to your dreams no matter what anyone says. In the pandemic, it took on a whole new meaning for me. I think I've taken some things for granted and when I get out of this hell, I am going to live my best life and do all those things I've perhaps put on the shelf because I thought they were accessible at any time."

Asked about the sensation she caused by revealing her pregnancy in a music video, she jokes, "That was quite early on, so think half of it (the bump) was Taco Bell!" Adding, "I thought, 'What better way to reveal big news in my life to my fans who have grown up with me, than via music.'"

Steve Carell joins Graham to chat about his new Netflix series Space Force.

Talking about how it came about, he says, "There was no idea behind the title. They contacted me with no sort of premise, which I thought was funny. It was a blank slate and we got to create what we wanted out of it."

Asked about how closely the show resembles the real thing, he says, "It's almost like we had parallel development - it was so funny that certain aspects mirror each other - but there are differentiations for sure!" Adding, "Those in charge have a great sense of humour and have been really nice about our show. They haven't been thin-skinned at all. The (bald) general in charge did think Bruce Willis would have been a better choice to play my character, but they seem to be fans which is nice."

Alan Carr joins Graham for a chat from the countryside. Asked what it's like spending lockdown on his partner's farm, he says, "Paul's the farmer and it so weird and traumatic for me. It's the longest I've been down here, and I've had to help out. I thought I would be like Snow White and the animals would come and land on my feet, but it's lambing season so it's all about septic teats and mange!"

Talking about his upcoming tour, he says, "I assume it's still going ahead in September. It's the most well-honed tour I've ever done. I've just been working and working on it - it's going to be like some sort of Vegas act by the time you see it!"

Asked about his new ITV series, Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow, which he describes as, "Classic game shows supersized and on steroids," he says, "It is nostalgic with a lot of fun and energy, and I think people will love it. Play Your Cards Right was my favourite - I loved it and it's like spirit of Sir Bruce Forsyth got inside me - he's in my DNA."

Dakota Johnson joins Graham for a chat and a round of Play Your Cards Right with Alan.

Talking about her new movie - The High Note - and her character being treated badly, she says, "I've been around some pretty wild people who've done some pretty wild things. In the movie my character is so much the underdog, but she is extremely talented and has ambition and drive that is other-worldly, which is so important for people, especially young women to see."

Asked about her grandmother actress Tippi Hedren and her obsession with big cats living in her house and the family's crazy antics with them, Dakota says, "She is 90 now, but still has 13 or 14 lions and tigers. By the time I was born they were all in compounds, so it wasn't as psycho as it was when it first started!"

John Legend joins Graham for a special home performance of his new single Bigger Love.