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00:00Oh
00:30Everybody you are so welcome to the show and can I just say happy black Friday everybody
00:38Have you all done your shopping mmm now, you know what I've ordered. Yeah five amazing guests and they've all arrived
00:46Look who's back. It's only Jessie J
00:48She'll be performing her new single H-A-P-P-Y, but first we have a very happy sofa for you tonight
00:58We've loved her as Claire and Debbie girls as Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton and as diplomat Barbie
01:04Now she's back on stage in the classic playboy of the Western world. It's Nicola Coughlin everybody
01:18This a wonderful woman is a BAFTA winning star of stage cinema and television and a Vogue cover girl to boot now
01:30She brings us the A to Z of her stories and opinions in the little book of Miriam. It's always a pleasure to welcome
01:38Miriam
01:48This smoldering Swede first made his mark in vampire series true blood before starring in Viking epic of the Northman and hit shows like big little lies and
02:09Succession his new film is called pillion. It's a first-time welcome to mr. Alexander Skarsgård
02:18Oh
02:31Is an eight-time Oscar nominee who started films like fatal attraction dangerous liaisons and 101 Dalmatians now
02:38She stars in the latest knives-out mystery wake up dead man. It is the great Glenn
02:48Hello
02:58Lovely lovely lovely lovely nice to see you all leave the guests alone Miriam
03:04Miriam are you paying homage to where's Wally? Why the scarf? It's Arsenal
03:10You've heard of Arsenal. Oh, I have certainly the first part
03:24Yesterday there was a big day. Yeah, I'm technically an Arsenal supporter too. I had a driver called Mickey who drove me on three different jobs
03:30He said you have a team. I said no. He said you're an Arsenal supporter. So me too. So you are as well
03:34I don't know anything but in yes. Well, the thing is I want to join the working classes
03:41I'm so middle class, you know, I can't help it, but Arsenal is working class
03:48Okay, and I thought if I support Arsenal, you know people will accept me
03:52There's nothing like a scarf over sequins to suggest
04:00It's lovely to see you Miriam. Glenn Close, I was saying about you, I feel like you're a frequent guest. You haven't been here for what 18 years?
04:0618 years, yes
04:08What did you do to her the first time?
04:10I don't know
04:11But no, is it true you nearly worked with Miriam? Yes, don't you remember? Yes, I do. Well, it was
04:19I think it was Albert Nobbs
04:21Albert Nobbs, that's right. Yes, the movie Albert Nobbs, it was shot in Dublin and I was dying for you to play the hotel proprietor
04:26And why didn't I? What happened? I don't know. You would have been marvellous
04:29I would have loved to have done that. It's a beautiful piece of work. Thank you
04:34And I really admire you
04:36You know, I don't admire all those people in Hollywood, but you I do
04:40I don't live in Hollywood, and I never have
04:45You know, we all work there sometimes
04:47Yeah, but you're a class act darling. Oh my goodness. Glenn class
04:59It's a first time welcome to Alexander Skarsgård and so hello hello hello, and now here's an odd thing. I think you know Miriam
05:08Uh
05:10No, you don't
05:12What's that about? I clearly made a strong impression on Miriam when we met
05:17Well, I
05:19We have actually met yes, uh
05:21I believe you own or used to own a condo in Santa Monica
05:26Is that correct? I did yes
05:28Yes, were you looking to rent out a room in that at one point? This would have been like when I when I was coming back to England
05:35Yeah, okay. What were you doing there?
05:39You were because you were going back to shoot was it Harry Potter maybe yeah, I think so and yeah
05:44I it was an ad. I was looking for a room to rent. I was why didn't you take it well?
05:51Tell her tell her
05:59It's a gorgeous apartment, and I remember that you were
06:03Very charming and I and expensive knowing I don't think it was that I think it was I think and in hindsight
06:10I probably misread the cues, but I felt a strong
06:14Sexual connection
06:16It was probably a problem misread the cues, but I felt this could potentially get messy if I rent a room in this apartment if I'm if I'm your
06:29Tony
06:31And day
06:34With my partner for 58 years again, I probably misread the
06:39I was actually there and I do remember that we had a lovely afternoon, which you obviously don't remember, but it was it was
06:56It's true Miriam he did just have to be a lovely afternoon. Yes, Nicola. Have you really worked with Miriam or nearly lived with her?
07:06I'm your daughter
07:09I
07:11I am your father
07:21I feel like it's a Christmas special
07:28We've got lots to talk about tonight. We've got two great films a classic play and a new book from Miriam
07:32So let's get started at Glen close brings us a new star-studded whodunit wake up a dead man a knives out mystery
07:39It opens in cinemas tonight and then it'll stream on Netflix from the 12th of December
07:44So this is the latest Benoit Blanc mystery played by Daniel Craig
07:48It's on all new cast or new story. Who are you? What's going on?
07:53Ah, well, it's gothic. It's more gothic than than the others and it takes place largely in and around a church and I am Martha
08:00Delacroix the the woman who is I would call the church lady. Yeah, she takes care of
08:10Everything it's a great part for you. I mean it's it was fun. Yeah
08:14Yeah, and like always the cast is amazing Daniel Craig you Josh O'Connor is so good in this so good. He plays a priest
08:23Yes, there he is. He's fantastic. I think he's kind of like a young Jimmy Stewart
08:29Oh, that's it. Yes, you can if you can't help but love him. Yeah, we've got a little clip. This is Josh O'Connor
08:36Oh, yes, he's just arrived. He's just right. He's discovering something of the church's past. Yes. So this is the crypt. Yep. Damn shame
08:46Got to put up a security camera. Is there an entrance? There is
08:51This right here
08:53Lazarus door takes construction equipment to open from the outside, but cantilevered as such that one push
09:01Sent a tumbling to the ground from the inside
09:04Who's in there then? Prentiss
09:07Wix's grandfather the founder of this church was like a father to me
09:14Makes me sick
09:16These kids painting rocket ships all over his sacred resting place
09:23And Thomas Hayden church in that in that clip as as well
09:30But apparently and I know people always say this after films particularly when there's a big cast that it was a very happy
09:35It was apparently you weren't hanging out in your own trailers. No, not at all. In fact, it's kind of what Ryan Johnson does
09:42Wherever we were we had a movable green worm and that's where we would gather and
09:48And laugh and sleep and tell stories and try those
09:53At one point somebody brought in those those really terrible British their piggy thumb the candies
09:59Pepper pigs. Yeah pepper pigs. We were all trying
10:02Percy pigs. Percy pigs. Percy pigs. Percy pigs.
10:05Things like that. Yeah, yeah
10:07Wow
10:09We had a great time. The bar was quite low
10:11But those things that were drawn on the whatever it was, they looked like genital organs
10:20Yes, Miriam
10:22Am I right? Am I right? Yes
10:25I mean it was an approximation, but yes
10:28It's a while since I've seen one
10:32And now the other thing, it's a lovely cast and that you all hung out
10:35But you also brought your lovely dog Pip
10:39My dog Pip, yes
10:40Who doesn't appear in the film
10:42No, but he's backstage right now
10:44Oh is he? Oh yes
10:46You should have brought him on
10:47This is you and Pip on set
10:49By the way, I should say this isn't a spoiler
10:53Did the dog do it?
10:56He wants you to think he did
10:58Those eyes, I get lost in those eyes. I know
11:02Yeah, and now this crucifix, is this the crucifix you brought from another film?
11:07Yes, yes, I have an incredible costume collection from my first movie and that crucifix was actually given to me by my father when he visited St. Peter's a long time ago and I wore it in House of the Spirits and I said wouldn't it be nice to get it and wear it again in this film and I did and it meant that it meant to be nice to get it and wear it again in this film.
11:27It really meant something to me
11:28And is it true the thing about your contract?
11:31Yes. About costume.
11:33Yes. So everything?
11:35I can pick whatever I want. Not if it's rented, though I have nicked a couple of things. I have to say.
11:43And what do you do with them all?
11:45Well, first of all, I spend a lot of time in fitting rooms and especially in movies where you don't have a lot of time to rehearse, if any at all.
11:54It's in that costume room when they're constructing the character, you're literally part of constructing the character as they're putting the clothes on you.
12:03So I have kept all of them from my first movie, plus I have a hundred and one hundred and two Dalmatians.
12:08I have the original Sunset Boulevard costumes. It's an extraordinary collection, which has already been shown in two different museums.
12:15You know, you could raise money for charity. I could. I could. But she chooses not to.
12:22Glenn hates charity things.
12:27Designers love it because otherwise they're rented out and torn apart.
12:34Yeah. The only thing I kept from Harry Potter was a pair of socks.
12:40Because they were nice kind of thick woolen socks.
12:44And you wear them in life. I do wear them in life.
12:47Is that all you've kept from all the things you've been in?
12:49Yeah, because I don't hang on to the costumes, you know.
12:54Because, Alexander, you like to collect things from films. You've kept some things, haven't you?
12:59I do have a bloody G-string that I wore in the Northmen framed in my bedroom.
13:04Framed? Framed.
13:06By the costume department as a wrap gift.
13:08Oh, I see. You didn't take it into the framers.
13:10Yeah, I got a couple of, um, I got my fangs from True Blood.
13:18Um, and, uh, two heads. One from Infinity Pool and one from, uh, Murderbot.
13:25Do you hide it, please, just to scare people?
13:26No, I, yeah, well, no, I do. Like, I put them, like, I tuck them in.
13:30If I have guests staying over, I usually tuck one of them in under the sheets in the guest bed.
13:35Oh.
13:36And then I'll appear, I'll appear in the middle of the night with the fangs.
13:41Fun.
13:43You're glad he didn't rent the room now.
13:44Yeah.
13:46And, Nicola, that, your Barbie dress, did you get to keep that?
13:49Yes. I didn't, but they made me, I had a two-second role in Barbie,
13:53but Jacqueline Duran, the costume designer, was like, what do you want to wear?
13:57And she made me a record of a dress of Barbie I had as a little girl.
14:00Oh.
14:01She was, I know, it was amazing, she was called Sparkle Eyes Barbie.
14:03Mm.
14:04Um, they didn't let me keep it, but I've stole knickers on every set I've ever been on.
14:08LAUGHTER
14:09Because I got a text...
14:10That's very useful.
14:11Very useful, but you go home in them, and then you get a text to be like,
14:13Hi, Nicola, well done today, could you please bring back the underwear?
14:17Because you've taken all of the characters under, and I'm like, yeah, fair.
14:20LAUGHTER
14:21Yeah, there's none left.
14:22Actually, we've got a very cute picture of you.
14:24Is your Barbie in this picture?
14:25No, but that's the...
14:27Oh.
14:28I think I was about six, and that's with my Barbie convertible.
14:30Look how bloody delighted I am with myself.
14:33LAUGHTER
14:34I never knew you were rich Nicola Coughlin.
14:36Oh, yeah, pretty fancy.
14:37Look at you and your Barbie convertible.
14:38But you have red hair there.
14:39It looks a bit red in that, it does, a little bit.
14:42Yeah, yeah.
14:43But yeah, my dad set up the camera in front of the Christmas tree,
14:45and I was posing, thinking, I'm pretty cool.
14:47Yeah.
14:48Oh, you are.
14:49Thanks very much.
14:50I mean, look at the size of that thing.
14:51Yeah, it was huge, it was amazing.
14:52You could have driven it to school.
14:53LAUGHTER
14:54I've got a 90 in that material, actually.
14:57That's interesting.
14:58Yeah, yeah.
14:59But I mean, I just happened to 90.
15:01No, no, I know.
15:02I'm clearly, I'm the share of the group.
15:04Yeah.
15:05Now, Glenn Close, you have been in something else very fun.
15:09All's Fair.
15:11Because Kim Kardashian and Sarah Paulson were here telling us all about it.
15:15Yes.
15:16That was before it came out.
15:19And...
15:20LAUGHTER
15:21Well, no, listen, we can laugh about it because it's an enormous success
15:26and there's a season two coming, isn't there?
15:29There is.
15:30Yes.
15:31LAUGHTER
15:32Were you slightly taken aback by the reviews?
15:37I didn't read any of them.
15:39OK.
15:40No, one doesn't read reviews, especially if you know they're terrible.
15:42I won't say anything then.
15:43LAUGHTER
15:44You must have known something, because you did post this cartoon.
15:47Yes.
15:48Which is Critic Bunny Stew.
15:51LAUGHTER
15:52Yes.
15:53Did you draw this?
15:54I did.
15:55It's very good.
15:57Yeah.
15:58I thought it was appropriate.
15:59LAUGHTER
16:00And pretty good likenesses, you can tell who they all are.
16:02No, you can tell whoever it is.
16:03Yeah.
16:04And talking of Critic Bunny Stew, you had a movie night, you and the rest of the cast.
16:07Yes.
16:08Yes.
16:09Because it came out that Kim had not seen Fatal Attraction.
16:13So a lot of you probably haven't either, if you're, you know.
16:16If you haven't, you should.
16:17Yeah.
16:18It's a pretty good movie.
16:19It's a scary movie.
16:20So everyone said, what, what, what?
16:22And so Kim said, let's all go over to my mother's house in our Skims pyjamas
16:28and watch Fatal Attraction.
16:30Oh, there you all are.
16:31There we are.
16:32And we did.
16:35Was it awkward for you, everyone just watching your movie?
16:39Well, I hadn't seen it in a very long time.
16:42I mean, memories flew back into my mind.
16:45Especially, I didn't know that I showed my breasts so much.
16:49LAUGHTER
16:50I mean, they weren't anything spectacular to see, but they were visible.
16:55Good.
16:56Good.
16:57Yeah, yeah.
16:58It's still streaming, Miriam, you can get it.
17:01Yeah.
17:02I've seen it.
17:04But you didn't have an intimacy counsellor then?
17:07Oh, no.
17:08No.
17:09Or what do they call them?
17:11Coordinator.
17:12Coordinator.
17:13Yeah.
17:14Intimacy coordinator.
17:15And they also...
17:16I can't imagine such a thing.
17:17I can't either.
17:18But they also, don't you have those...
17:19You meet somebody and it's called, if you get along or you want to...
17:23Oh, a chemistry test.
17:24A chemistry read?
17:25Yes.
17:26A chemistry read.
17:27Oh, that's absurd.
17:28Isn't that absurd?
17:29Isn't that absurd?
17:30Isn't that absurd?
17:31Amazing.
17:32No, I...
17:33I don't understand.
17:34I don't think I'd have a career if I had to have a chemistry read.
17:37LAUGHTER
17:39But when you screen test, isn't that like a chemistry read?
17:43Like, do they make you screen test with Michael Douglas?
17:45Oh, my God.
17:46Well, I screen test for Fatal Attraction.
17:47It was a nightmare.
17:48I've never known what to do with my hair.
17:50My hair was long and I didn't know what to do with my hair.
17:52My hair was like...
17:53And I took a Valium because I was so nervous.
17:55LAUGHTER
17:56So, I was walking across, you know, to the parking lot in L.A.,
18:00kind of like this.
18:01And you walked into a room and there's a camera
18:03and there's Michael Douglas.
18:05And I wanted to just crawl into a hole.
18:09LAUGHTER
18:10Did you guys know each other at all?
18:12Or was that the first time you met?
18:13No, no.
18:14And we'd do these scenes and Eric and Larry would say,
18:16Hotter!
18:17Hotter!
18:18Hotter!
18:19What do you do when somebody says,
18:20Hotter!
18:21Hotter!
18:22I'd say, fuck off!
18:23LAUGHTER
18:28You can see Glenn and a great company of stars
18:30in Wake Up Dead Man and Live's Out Mystery in cinemas now
18:34and coming soon to Netflix.
18:36But now, Alexander Skarsgård brings us what we've all been waiting for,
18:40a gay biker rom-com.
18:42It's yellow!
18:44Finally!
18:45Finally!
18:46Finally!
18:47It's called Pillion!
18:49And it's in UK and Irish cinemas from today.
18:52And before we talk about it, let's watch a clip.
18:55This is your character, Ray, meeting the parents for the first time.
19:04Gosh, you're tall.
19:06Sorry, Peggy?
19:08Peggy?
19:09Um, nice to meet you.
19:10Ray.
19:11How do you do?
19:12Time for a quick drink?
19:14No, thank you.
19:15Not when I'm writing.
19:16No, of course not.
19:17What was I thinking?
19:18Good lad, yeah.
19:20Well, something soft.
19:22We'd better get going.
19:24You don't sound local, Ray.
19:26Where's home?
19:28Chislehurst.
19:29Chislehurst?
19:30Very nice.
19:31I've never thought of Colin as a chislehurst sort of person.
19:35No, he'll survive.
19:39All right.
19:40Come on then, Colin.
19:41All right.
19:42You just...
19:43Oh, Ray, Ray, sorry to fuss, but you do have a spare helmet, yes?
19:48Yes.
19:49And he actually has to wear it.
19:50Dad.
19:51Because he's not getting on without one.
19:53He is not getting on without one.
19:55Great.
19:59Nice bike.
20:00Plain black.
20:01None of this neon crap.
20:02No, you see everywhere nowadays, don't you?
20:05Colin.
20:06Yep.
20:07You sure you know what you're doing?
20:12Yeah, don't worry, Dad.
20:13I'm...
20:14I'm not worried.
20:15I rode a bike when I met Colin's mum.
20:19And I sold it when the twins come along.
20:21Bought a very expensive pram.
20:24Well, I suppose you two need to worry about that.
20:32Douglas Hart and Leslie Sharp there as the parents,
20:35and Harry Melling as Colin.
20:38So Colin and Ray, tell us about...
20:41Because it is kind of...
20:42It's all sorts of things, but there is a romance at the heart of it.
20:45Yeah, it's a sort of a love story.
20:48It's a sub-dom love story.
20:50Ray, my character, spots Colin in a crowded bar
20:54and decides that this could be a potential great sub for him.
20:59So he...
21:00They go out on a date and then...
21:03That's the beginning of something quite intense.
21:07Yes, and it is very intense and it's quite out there,
21:11but there's a kind of a sweetness to it as well.
21:13Well, in a way, it's a coming-of-age story for Harry's character,
21:18Colin, because it is his first relationship
21:22and he's figuring out what Ray wants out of this relationship.
21:25And then as we get into the movie, 30, 40 minutes into the movie,
21:29he starts to realise that,
21:30well, is this exactly what I want out of a relationship?
21:32And then he kind of has to come to terms with that
21:36and deal with that.
21:37So...
21:39So, yeah, it's a...
21:41It's a classic...
21:43Dom-com.
21:44But you're not gay, are you?
21:46You're not gay, are you?
21:47You're not gay.
21:49Are you?
21:50No, not really.
21:51No.
21:57You do...
21:58You do remember that day, 20 years ago, don't you?
22:00I didn't notice how long ago.
22:01Not at all.
22:03It's just fascinating because, you know,
22:06I've been enthusiastically gay for a very long time
22:11and I'm always surprised by fellas who...
22:16who come across it later.
22:19But you...
22:21You...
22:22You're having to act it.
22:24And how did you research it if you didn't know much about it?
22:27Because you do...
22:29We all do research.
22:31I mean, these are all the questions I was going to ask,
22:33Alexander.
22:34Alexander, I...
22:36I'm so sorry.
22:42No, a lot has been made about the sex in it and...
22:46But it's...
22:47But it's interesting.
22:48It is really out there, but it's always...
22:50It is always kind of pivotal to the plot and the characters.
22:54Yeah, I mean...
22:56I find sex scenes are only uncomfortable
23:01if they...
23:02If you don't understand why you're shooting the scene,
23:04if it feels gratuitous or if you're...
23:06Like, why am I walking around naked in this scene?
23:08It doesn't really serve the story or the narrative.
23:10It doesn't push it forward.
23:11And, um...
23:12Yes, there are some graphic scenes in the movie,
23:14but they're all kind of pivotal moments in the relationship
23:18and in Colin's journey.
23:20Um...
23:21So I was quite excited about shooting them because, again,
23:24it's like they were key components to the narrative.
23:27You had a wrestling one and I was like,
23:28you're going to murder him.
23:30It was like...
23:31I was like, have you wrestled before?
23:33But then...
23:34And then we ended up making Sweet Love.
23:35You did make Sweet Love.
23:36I mean, it wasn't Sweet Love.
23:37Oh, yeah.
23:38Yeah.
23:39Sweet Love.
23:40But, like, you...
23:41Yeah, I was like, you're going to kill him.
23:42We met, actually.
23:43No.
23:44Yeah.
23:45We met two days before we started shooting
23:46and we rehearsed that wrestling scene, Harry and I.
23:48Wow.
23:49And really got to know each other well.
23:51I would say so, yeah.
23:53Because, again, Harry's character is very inexperienced
23:57and has to learn from Ray in these scenes.
24:01So it wasn't supposed to be good.
24:03And it's confusing so many Harry's,
24:06but Harry Lighton, the writer, director,
24:08also wanted it to feel clumsy
24:10and had a thing which I love,
24:12that, like, often sex scenes are...
24:15It's too kind of polished
24:16and the lighting is always perfect
24:18and it's too, like, hands grabbing sheets,
24:20that kind of crap.
24:22Like, what was so great about this,
24:23like, he was like...
24:24He's not seeing Bridgerton.
24:29All right, keep going.
24:30I'm sorry.
24:31Nicholas Sheet grabbing.
24:32Nicholas Sheet grabbing is second to none.
24:33Yeah.
24:34Yeah.
24:35It's like the romanticized version of sex
24:37and what was great about these scenes,
24:39and what made me excited about it was,
24:42yes, they are hot and intense,
24:46but there's also room for awkwardness
24:48and when people change positions,
24:51it can look clumsy and weird
24:53and it's kind of fun to leave that in
24:54rather than cut around it.
24:55So, like, everything is not a perfectly choreographed dance.
24:59And why do we think we...
25:00I think we all have an impression
25:01that Swedish people are unshockable,
25:03that they're very kind of bohemian,
25:05or have we just made that up?
25:07I think that is not quite true.
25:10I think it was, um...
25:12But you run around naked a lot, don't you?
25:14Well, my family, yes.
25:16But in general...
25:17I think it's from a movie called
25:19Joanniefing Gull from the 60s
25:21that was kind of made a big impact around the world
25:23because it was, like, sexually very liberating
25:26and, um, and Swedish.
25:28So that kind of...
25:29After that, people were like,
25:30oh, they're so liberated and free.
25:32So you are Swedish, are you?
25:34Um, yes.
25:35Can you do the accent for us?
25:38I'd like to hear that.
25:40I think he has been, yeah.
25:41Anything for you, Miriam.
25:43Awww.
25:44It's very sing-song in Swedish.
25:46It is.
25:47It's kind of like...
25:48That was gibberish, but...
25:49Yeah.
25:50Yeah, there is a sort of music in it, like, you know.
25:56There is a sort of music in it.
25:58And here's the thing, you're doing a press tour,
26:01but you're not doing it by yourself
26:02because the real gay bikers club
26:05that feature in the film,
26:07they've been travelling around with you, right?
26:10They come to the show.
26:11Some of them are here.
26:12Gay bikers club?
26:13I think we can spot...
26:14There they are.
26:15Hello.
26:16Oh, my...
26:17Oh, that's amazing.
26:22Yeah.
26:23Hello, guys.
26:24Hi.
26:25Nice to meet you all.
26:26Paul and Kevin and A.
26:28Love you.
26:29We've got a picture of them all on the red carpet.
26:31There they are at the London Film Festival.
26:33Lovely.
26:34Is that Matt?
26:35Is the pup...
26:36Oh, are you the pup?
26:37Yeah.
26:38Oh, yeah.
26:39Honestly, it's like the show back in the Channel 4 days.
26:41I'm having flashbacks.
26:42And they've been biking around with you.
26:43Have they been to various...
26:44That's not the only one they've been to.
26:45Yeah, a bunch of these guys came down to Cannes
26:46for the world premiere, which was pretty incredible.
26:47Wow.
26:48That was the first time I watched the movie with an audience,
26:50so to do that with Harry and Harry and the guys
26:54and the fact that they came down just meant the world to me.
26:57It was an incredible night.
26:58Well, it's a really special film.
27:00It's very hard to describe, but I really hope people see it
27:01because it's just terrific.
27:02Oh, thank you.
27:03You're great in it.
27:04It's a pillion, and it's in cinemas now.
27:05Very good.
27:06Woo!
27:07Always a treat when...
27:08Oh, yeah.
27:09Oh, yeah.
27:10Oh, yeah.
27:11Oh, yeah.
27:12Oh, yeah.
27:13Oh, yeah.
27:14Oh, yeah.
27:15Oh, yeah.
27:16Oh, yeah.
27:17Oh, yeah.
27:18Oh, yeah.
27:19Oh, yeah.
27:20Oh, yeah.
27:21Oh, yeah.
27:22Oh, yeah.
27:23Oh, yeah.
27:24Oh, yeah.
27:25Oh, yeah.
27:26Always a treat when Miriam Margulies puts pen to paper.
27:30And this is a goodie.
27:31It is called The Little Book of Miriam.
27:35It's out now.
27:37And this is your third book, I think.
27:39It is, yes.
27:40But you've sold almost one and a half million books, Miriam.
27:44Amazing.
27:45It is amazing.
27:46Congratulations.
27:47I feel quite humbled.
27:48How do you write it?
27:49On your computer?
27:50Computer.
27:51On my computer.
27:52Yeah.
27:53No, I never thought I was a writer.
27:55And some people agree with that.
27:58But, um, I've been immensely lucky, actually.
28:01And, honestly, being on this show helps to sell it.
28:06And that's...
28:07That's why he has...
28:09That's why she's here, ladies and gentlemen.
28:11I thought you were going to say he inspired you when you told me.
28:16No.
28:17I would like to sell...
28:18It's a flogging opportunity.
28:20It is.
28:21It is.
28:22It is.
28:23It is.
28:24You are a writer also, and your books are lovely.
28:28Oh, that's very funny.
28:29I really urge people to buy Graham's books and read them.
28:33Read them.
28:34People don't read enough.
28:35You're scrolling and scrolling.
28:37I agree.
28:38Read.
28:39Read a fucking book.
28:40Read this book.
28:41Yeah.
28:42And you...
28:43You tour the country with your books, and you play these big theatres,
28:50and this is night after night you do this.
28:53Do you enjoy it, or is it kind of exhausting?
28:55Oh, I do.
28:56I mean, I think you would agree with that.
28:58You're an actress, and you're an actress.
29:00It's wonderful to be in front of an audience.
29:03You know, I'm an old, tired lady.
29:06Well, I'm hardly a lady, really, but I love being in front of an audience.
29:13It gives me a buzz, a thrill.
29:15I get energy from it.
29:17I get joy from it.
29:18I really do.
29:19And I think most actors do.
29:21I don't like cameras.
29:23I'm not interested in them.
29:25But to be with a live audience, to get the response from them,
29:29and to feel that they're listening to me,
29:31and sometimes quite liking what I'm doing,
29:34that is magical.
29:36The book is kind of an A to Z of your thoughts and your stories.
29:40Yes, it's alphabetical.
29:41And there's a story, and I know people ask you to tell this story a lot
29:44when you're doing your live shows.
29:46I think it was when you were on with Will.i.am,
29:48and you told the story, and you know the one I'm talking about
29:50where you're going home in Edinburgh late at night.
29:53In Edinburgh.
29:54There's a man up a tree.
29:55You assist him.
29:57But what you reveal in the book is there's more to this story.
30:02I know.
30:03I didn't tell it on television,
30:06because I felt nobody would believe me.
30:08But after I had helped and supported the troupe...
30:13It was a soldier up a tree.
30:14Oh, wanking.
30:15And Miriam helped.
30:16And I...
30:17He wasn't stuck.
30:18He was just up a tree.
30:19No.
30:20He was up a tree.
30:21I heard the rustles.
30:22I saw what was going on, asked him to come down.
30:25I finished him off, so to speak.
30:28Very pleasantly.
30:30And there was no threats.
30:32I was wiping my hand in the grass.
30:35LAUGHTER
30:36And a voice from the bushes.
30:41By the way, this is the new part of the story.
30:44When we left this story, you were wiping your hand on the grass.
30:47Yes.
30:48Now.
30:49I heard a voice come from the seat that was just where I'd been.
30:55And a very nicely dressed gentleman came forward and said,
31:01Um, I couldn't help noticing what you had done for that young man.
31:08And I wondered if it was at all possible, whether you would do the same for me.
31:15LAUGHTER
31:16And, um, I said, er, I thought to myself, well, I can't say no, can I?
31:23Because I've done it.
31:25One, sorry about it, but you can say no.
31:27LAUGHTER
31:28I just felt I couldn't.
31:29OK.
31:30That's the thing.
31:31Yeah.
31:32I'm not going to love Pillian, but...
31:34LAUGHTER
31:35This could be a scene from Pillian.
31:37LAUGHTER
31:38So, I did what he asked me to do.
31:42Right there?
31:43Right there.
31:44There was nobody else there, you know.
31:46Oh.
31:47So, off he went, and I was wiping my hand in the grass.
31:50LAUGHTER
31:51And, lo and behold, this is the bit nobody believes, but it is true.
31:56A voice from the same place said,
32:00Hey, Miriam.
32:02And it was someone I knew.
32:04LAUGHTER
32:05He was a young student that I had known in Oxford.
32:09I went to Cambridge, but he...
32:11I met him in Oxford because I lived there.
32:13And he said,
32:15Listen, we're old friends, you know.
32:18I said, Oh, come on.
32:20LAUGHTER
32:22That's fair.
32:24And he said, Oh, come on, Miriam, you know.
32:26So, I did.
32:27LAUGHTER
32:29Free for the price of one.
32:32LAUGHTER
32:33Beautiful story.
32:34It's true.
32:35It is honestly true.
32:37LAUGHTER
32:38I'm surprised you are still there, Miriam.
32:41Thank you, friends.
32:42Yes, of course.
32:44LAUGHTER
32:46So...
32:47Now, Miriam...
32:49LAUGHTER
32:50I feel, I feel...
32:51Thank you for your service.
32:52You tell these great stories we love having on the show,
32:55But I feel that often it takes away from the fact
32:57that you are this great actor.
32:59Well...
33:00So I'm delighted to say that you are in a short film
33:04that's coming out in the new year.
33:06I am very good in this film.
33:08LAUGHTER
33:09It's called a friend of Dorothy.
33:12But the real star is that young boy up there,
33:16Alastair Nchoku.
33:18Yeah.
33:19He's wonderful.
33:20It's...
33:21And my agent has taken him on.
33:23He's so good.
33:24So good.
33:25And so lovely.
33:26And he helped me to be good too.
33:29Mm.
33:30As did the writer and director, Lee Knight.
33:32It's just a wonderful film.
33:34So it...
33:35I believe it's going to be on one of those streaming channels.
33:38It is.
33:39Very soon.
33:40Yes.
33:41I can't tell you which one because it's a secret.
33:42But I know it's the 1st of January.
33:44On the 1st of January.
33:45Yes.
33:46Rush to see it because it's really wonderful.
33:48It is.
33:49It's a very, very sweet film and you're both so good in it.
33:52It's gorgeous.
33:53Absolutely gorgeous.
33:54Thank you for that.
33:55And don't forget The Little Book of Miriam.
33:56That is out now.
33:57OK.
34:02Good news, everyone.
34:03Ms Nicola Coughlin is returning to the London stage
34:06in the Playboy of the Western world at the National Theatre
34:09from the 4th of December.
34:114th of December.
34:12Oh, that's next week.
34:13I know.
34:14How are you all set?
34:15You ready?
34:16Well, we did our first sort of run today in the room.
34:19It was our last day in the rehearsal room.
34:21They said, you know, two or three people will be coming in.
34:23And there was sort of three rows on either side of the room.
34:25And I went, oh, no.
34:26And it was terrifying.
34:27But, like you said, very exciting to have an audience there
34:30to perform to.
34:31And, yeah, it's very, very exciting.
34:32And, obviously, the Playboy of the Western world,
34:34classic play, James Sing.
34:35Yes.
34:36If people don't know, if it's somehow passed them by,
34:38who are you in it?
34:39What's it about?
34:40So, I play a young lady called Peggyn Mike.
34:42And it's set in the west of Ireland in 1907.
34:44And there was big riots when this play came out.
34:46Because they talked about women's shifts,
34:49so women's underwear in it.
34:50And people were like, no, Irish women, you know,
34:52they would never talk about underwear.
34:54We couldn't be so crazy.
34:55And then they tore up the theatre to prove how not badly behaved.
34:59So, yeah, so she runs this pub in the country
35:02and everything's sort of going along a bit humdrum.
35:04And then a young, good-looking man walks in.
35:06And everyone sort of goes, well, who are you?
35:08Where did you come from?
35:09And they barrage of questions.
35:11And then he sort of says, leave me alone.
35:13I killed my father.
35:14And instead of being horrified, they'll go, that's amazing.
35:17That's really cool and exciting.
35:19And we all fancy you.
35:21Yeah.
35:22And you've reunited with Derry Girls co-star Siobhan.
35:25Yes.
35:26Have you ever been on stage with her before?
35:28I never have, but she is the Queen of Ireland.
35:30We sort of play love rivals for Christie,
35:32played by the lovely Anna Hardwick in the middle,
35:34which is great fun.
35:35Because my character, we did a show together called Derry Girls
35:38and she was the...
35:39I know that.
35:40Oh, do you?
35:41Yes, I fucking do.
35:42Oh, sorry.
35:43You're brilliant.
35:44Oh, my goodness.
35:45Thanks very much.
35:46You're brilliant.
35:47All of you.
35:48Oh, thank you.
35:49Thank you very much.
35:50But my character in the show was very scared of her character
35:52because she was a nun, very scary nun.
35:54But in this, we're rivals, so we get to go toe-to-toe,
35:56which is great fun.
35:57And here's the thing.
35:58It's a return to live theatre for you.
36:00Yes, yeah.
36:01And so you'll be in front of a live audience
36:02and people are talking about how great that is.
36:04Yeah.
36:05But it's also quite...
36:06It can be quite intimidating
36:07because audiences have changed, I feel.
36:09Well, it's absolutely terrifying.
36:10I mean, I've done theatre before, a lot of direct-to-dress theatre
36:13where you're just speaking it out to the audience.
36:15And you have interesting things when that happens
36:17because people assume that you can't see them
36:19and you really can sometimes.
36:20And I did a show once where I looked up in the audience
36:22and a man just took out a lunchbox
36:24and just started eating, like, a microwave shepherd's pie.
36:27And I was like, right, this does make what I'm doing quite difficult.
36:30So please, if you come to the National, just, like, don't.
36:33Eat the shepherd's pie before or after.
36:35That would help, like, a lot.
36:36And the phones thing is...
36:38The phones thing.
36:39Oh, yeah.
36:40It illuminates your face.
36:41I stopped a show once.
36:42Yeah.
36:43Did you?
36:44So I was doing Sunset Boulevard on Broadway.
36:46Yeah.
36:47And, you know, you prepare, prepare,
36:48and you make a great entrance,
36:49and it was a flash, flash, flash, flash, flash.
36:52And as you're doing this song, you're thinking,
36:54what am I going to do about this?
36:55What am I going to do about this?
36:56And I walked to the end of the stage and I said,
36:58we can either have a photo shoot or we can do the show.
37:01You decide.
37:02Yeah.
37:03Ooh.
37:10Alexander Skarsgård, have you done any theatre?
37:13Yeah, in Sweden years ago.
37:15It's probably almost, well, 15, 20 years ago now.
37:18Wow.
37:19And no temptation to get back on the boards.
37:21It's a lot of work, my friend.
37:23It's a lot of work.
37:24So, no.
37:25I'm incredibly lazy.
37:28And you come from this big acting dynasty,
37:30the Skarsgårds, to your dad, Stellan,
37:32but then how many of your siblings are...
37:34But that's your father.
37:35Yeah.
37:36Ooh, he is a good actor.
37:38Oh, he really is.
37:41Why are you laughing?
37:42Favourite Skarsgård, yeah.
37:44I didn't mean that in a nasty way.
37:45No, no.
37:46I absolutely mean it.
37:47Yeah, very nice.
37:48It was a wonderful actor.
37:49But I heard you were very jealous of your father
37:51being in Mamma Mia.
37:52Oh, God.
37:53I mean, who wouldn't be?
37:54I mean, look at that.
37:57It was, yeah, he was just obviously a big ABBA fan.
38:00But was that in the film of Mamma Mia?
38:02Yeah.
38:03Yes.
38:04Oh.
38:05What?
38:06It's a great movie.
38:07Have you not seen it?
38:08I did see it.
38:09Yeah.
38:10You're not disappointed.
38:11I thought it was dreadful.
38:12No, no, no, no.
38:13The movie itself were my father's performance.
38:15No, no.
38:16I don't remember your father's performance.
38:18But it really wasn't to my taste.
38:24I think what I was jealous of was the experience.
38:33Because I remember, like, he was having the most fun he's ever had.
38:36I think they all did.
38:37There were all the people in it.
38:38And that's also kind of why I appreciated the movie so much.
38:43Because you can tell it was kind of infectious, like,
38:45how much fun they were all having.
38:46Yeah.
38:47And, like, my father is not a great singer.
38:49But he was just melting it out and laughing.
38:52And it just looked like it was a joyous experience.
38:58I'm glad he had a good time.
39:01Have some notes.
39:03I know.
39:04I hesitate to mention Nicola's new film.
39:06But no, you haven't seen this.
39:08Mamma Mia 3.
39:09No.
39:10No, Nicola, you've got it.
39:12This is such a posh, it's a kid's film, but it's a posh one.
39:15The Magic Faraway Tree.
39:16Yes.
39:17It's you.
39:18Who else?
39:19It's an amazing cast.
39:20Ridiculous cast.
39:21Claire Foy, Andrew Garfield, Rebecca Ferguson, Jennifer Saunders,
39:25Michael Palin.
39:26Wow.
39:27It's honestly...
39:28Oh, wonderful.
39:29It was amazing.
39:30I mean, I read the script and had no idea who was involved with it,
39:32but I thought it was Simon Farnaby who wrote Paddington 2,
39:34which is one of the best movies ever in the world.
39:37Yeah.
39:38And I was, like, desperate to be involved and, yeah, it was just a joy.
39:42And it's a lot of people's favourite, you know, childhood book.
39:45I'd never read it, but I love meeting grown-ups.
39:48They're like, oh, my God.
39:49And I got to play a fairy.
39:50And I got lovely, lovely ears.
39:52Well, they've got a picture of you, haven't they?
39:53Oh, yeah.
39:54There you are.
39:55Oh, yeah.
39:56Good ears.
39:57Yeah, great ears.
39:58It was so much fun and there's three gorgeous kids who lead us
40:02and we got to lots of magical lands and it was just a joy.
40:05I loved it so much.
40:06And when's that out?
40:07It's out in March.
40:08Oh, OK.
40:09Yes.
40:10But the trailer's out very soon.
40:11They won't tell me when, but soon.
40:12Yeah.
40:13Well, just a quick reminder, you can see Nicola Coughlin in
40:16the Playboy of the Western world at the National from next Thursday.
40:20Good luck to you.
40:21Thank you very much.
40:24Right.
40:25It is time for music.
40:27This Brit award-winning artist sold over 20 million records
40:30worldwide.
40:31And now, after a seven-year break, she is back with a new album.
40:36Here performing the single H-A-P-P-Y, it's Jessie J.
40:41Oh, I mean myself and I ain't no place to hide.
40:56All I got is time.
40:58Oh, I'm screaming out of sea fish.
41:02Tell me that you keep it.
41:04I don't want to lie.
41:06Oh, I can take it.
41:10Try to fake it.
41:12My smile.
41:14Oh, they believe it.
41:18Ain't the meaning of life.
41:22I'm gonna laugh till I cry.
41:25Dang, it's I know why.
41:27Cause I'm H-A-P-P-Y.
41:29H-A-P-P-Y.
41:31I laugh till I cry.
41:33Dang, it's I know why.
41:35Cause I'm H-A-P-P-Y.
41:37H-A-P-P-Y.
41:39Rainbow's on the ceiling.
41:42Seraph's on the ceiling.
41:44When it's in my soul.
41:47Oh.
41:48Colitis got me feeling.
41:50Wide awake and drinking.
41:52But you already know.
41:55Oh, I can take it.
41:58Try to fake it.
42:00My smile.
42:02Woo!
42:03Oh, they believe it.
42:06Ain't the meaning.
42:08I'm lying.
42:11I laugh till I cry.
42:12Come on.
42:13Dance, I know why.
42:15Cause I'm H-A-P-P-Y.
42:17H-A-P-P-Y.
42:19I laugh till I cry.
42:21Dance, I know why.
42:23H-A-P-P-Y.
42:24Come on, boys.
42:25H-A-P-P-Y.
42:26Let's do it.
42:30Come on, start with me.
42:32Come on, man.
42:33Woo!
42:35Woo!
42:36Hey.
42:37Hey.
42:38Hey.
42:39Hey.
42:40Hey.
42:41Hey.
42:42Hey.
42:43Hey.
42:44Hey.
42:45Hey.
42:46Hey.
42:47Hey.
42:48Hey.
42:49Hey.
42:50Hey.
42:51Hey.
42:52Hey.
42:53Hey.
42:54Hey.
42:55Hey.
42:56Hey.
42:57Hey.
42:58Hey.
42:59Hey.
43:00Hey.
43:01Hey.
43:02Hey.
43:03Oh
43:33Nicola
43:45Thank you so much for that performance. It was my turn. Just loved it
43:49Hey JPBY that is off the latest album. Don't tease me with a good time
43:55Which is out today it is it's in the world
44:03It does because time does all these strange things. Yeah, no idea. It's been seven years in too long
44:12It's very rude. Yeah, I'm so sorry
44:16And then I just disappeared no it just life this happens doesn't it?
44:19I suppose the big question is, you know
44:21How are you feeling because I know you have been through a ringer with health things and all sorts and this has been wild
44:28Yeah, so I'm good. I've just I've just recovered from breast cancer
44:33Thank you
44:35Wow
44:37I never know how to react to
44:39Yeah, I do everything's with jokes. I'm sorry if I say things that feel a bit awkward, but yeah, I'm just yeah
44:45No, it's good. Yeah, it's good. I've got one really hard boob and an album out
44:54I'm just happy to be here
44:57And what has it been like kind of getting up in front of audiences again and doing performances again on this thing
45:03Everywhere I've been it's like
45:06It's like I've been de-iced and I've come out of the Natural History Museum
45:09You haven't been around for years
45:16I don't feel any different to be honest and since we last saw you you've done this thing
45:21Which I feel like not enough people know about so no you went to China
45:26You went to China and yeah
45:28They know about it
45:30They know about it
45:32You went to China and you did this show called singer
45:34Yes, and so it's a talent show
45:36Yes, but it's it's a talent show on a scale
45:39You've never heard of so how many people look?
45:43It's actually in the same so I went my management. I was I was writing my last album 100 years ago and
45:49They were like this TV show want to like have you on and I was like just say yes
45:53And they're like do you want to know the details?
45:55And I was like no
45:57Just I need a shake-up just say yes
45:59So I fly over to China thinking I'm a guest on a TV show no no I'm a contestant
46:04No
46:06And I'm competing against other Chinese artists that are massive and fully established like do stadiums and it's 500 million viewers a week
46:15No, yeah the finals we did I did 13 weeks 13 episodes. It was the most amazing experience of my life
46:21It was a reality TV show I had to sing in Mandarin. Please don't look that up
46:26And the final was 1.2 billion people what
46:31Insane so I mean me in China like I get back all the time
46:36You were a contestant. Yes, did you win? I did
46:43I was so scared
46:45I sang I will always love you by Whitney Houston and people have asked me to sing that song a lot like growing up
46:51And I was like no I only want to do it and I feel like
46:54It's the right moment and I just felt I don't know why I chose to do it in front of 1.2 billion people live
46:59In a dress where I look literally like a sparkly penguin I could not walk and I was just like walk into the mic
47:04But it was life-changing it was the most amazing experience. Yeah, wow
47:09Congratulations and people can see you on tour here. Yes from is it next April?
47:14I'm going on tour and yeah in all the time. I'm just singing anywhere if you know I'll be singing a lot of places
47:21I'll come over to your house
47:23Yeah, it's so great to see you. Thank you for that amazing for it's a good luck with the tour and the album Jessie J everybody
47:31Thank you
47:33Thank you
47:35That is nearly it but before we go just time for a quick visit to the big red chair who have we got?
47:41Hello. Hi. Hi. I have high hopes for you. There's a spark in your eye. What's your name?
47:46Alison Alison lovely and where are you from Alison?
47:49Uh, Devon. Devon lovely and what are you doing Devon Alison?
47:51Um, I'm a partnership development manager for a financial services network business. I almost said that
47:59Okay, off you go off you go with the story Alison
48:01Back in the 70s growing up as a child with a strict mother
48:05We were always taught not to leave any food on our plate and it was christmas day christmas dinner
48:10And as usual you would have sprouts on your christmas dinner which I hate
48:14Um, so everyone had left the the dining room table and I was left with my plate
48:19Which I just had the sprouts left on there and we had a jack russell um terrier called timmy
48:26And I thought well be quite nice
48:27No one's going to see I can put the plate on the floor and the dog will eat the sprouts and I'll get away with it
48:32I put the plate on the floor the dog licked the gravy off the sprouts but left the sprouts
48:38But unfortunately I couldn't admit to the fact that I just got to try to get the dog to eat the sprouts
48:43So I still had to eat the sprouts
48:47You can walk Alison, I like that story
48:51Very good, okay, that really is all time for you
48:54If you'd like to have a go and a bit, tell yourself and tell your story you can contact us via our website at this very address
48:59Please say a huge thank you to all of our guests tonight jesse j
49:02I'll see you then goodnight
49:06I'll see you then goodnight
49:08Myra Margulies
49:10Alexander Skarsgård
49:12And Glenn Close
49:14Join me next week with music guest Kat Burns
49:20U.S. talk show host Seth Meyers
49:22Celebrity traitor king Alan Carr
49:24Oscar winner Kate Winslet
49:26And the former prime minister of New Zealand
49:28Jacinda Ardern
49:30I'll see you then goodnight
49:32Goodbye
49:38Life after motherland
49:40She's making a big splash in Amanda land comedy on iPlayer
49:44This and everything across the BBC is made possible because we're funded by you
49:50Thank you
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