Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

In this week's Graham Norton Show on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Matthew Fox talks about Lost and working in the West End, German-born actress Diane Kruger reveals she was a professional mourner, Brit-winner Jessie J talks about her Brit and meeting Justin Bieber, and Liverpudlian comedian John Bishop is lost in translation.

Talking about his TV success Matthew says: "I have been really lucky and can now be really selective in what I do – my choices are creative rather than having to take a gig to pay the bills."

He adds: "Lost was a whole chapter of my life. I moved the family to Hawaii and my kids have grown up there." And on the series' convoluted storyline, he says: "I believe the creators knew how it would end, but I don't think they knew how they were going to get there."

On his upcoming West End debut, Matthew says: "Working in theatre is an important part of what I wanted my career to be." And on his character, he says: "I see a lot of myself in him – he says things as he sees it. I enjoy his approach to the world."

Talking about her new movie with Liam Neeson, Diane says: "I'm not a big Lara Croft kind of girl but I am proud I did all my own stunts. I surprised myself, but Liam, who is six foot something, nearly drowned me when I was trying to save him."

And on playing a German in Inglorious Basterds, Diane says: "Quentin [Tarantino] didn't believe I am actually German. It's ironic. I have spent my entire career as an actress trying to lose my accent so I can play Americans and then the one part comes along where I am required to be German and I have to convince him I am."

John, on his fledgling acting career, says: "I recently auditioned for Coronation Street and was asked to do a Mancunian accent. I didn't get the role as the director said 'I'm sorry, it sounds like you have had a stroke'."

Talking about his wild childhood in a remote part of Wyoming, in a town with a population of just 13, Matthew reveals: "My old man wouldn't let a television into the house. We made our own entertainment – I was one of three boys and we were really into fire and there was dynamite involved... we really did some crazy stuff."

On her childhood, Diane says: "I grew up very catholic and to make money I was a professional mourner. I specialised in funerals. For two years from 10 to 12 I held a candle and stood by a coffin. I think I became an actress because of my mourning experience."

And to Graham's disbelief, she says: "I was unpopular at school and it wasn't fun," despite revealing she was one of only three girls in an all boys' school.

John, describing his childhood as "skint", says: "We moved from Liverpool to Winsford. It was like an island of Scouseness surrounded by Cheshire. So I grew up with people trying to out-Scouse each other, which is why me and my sisters have really strong accents."

Struggling to understand anything John says, Diane asks him: "Could you do an English accent?"

Jessie J joins Graham's guests for a chat. She says of her Brit award: "It was like doing a school project and waiting to get the grades back." And she reveals she celebrated her number one by having her teeth whitened.

On her success says: "It's been a long time coming." Talking about meeting Justin Bieber she says: "He was lovely. He didn't ask me out but he was really sweet. Then I made the mistake of spelling his name wrong on Twitter and I got a lot of hate mail."

She adds: "His film is great and his hair in 3-D is epic."

Jessie performs her hit single Price Tag live in the studio.

And finally, Graham pulls the lever on foolhardy members of the audience brave enough to sit in the red chair.

Notes to Editors

These quotes are taken verbatim from a studio recording and may not necessarily reflect the content of the final transmitted version of the programme.

The Graham Norton Show, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Friday 25 February at 10.35pm.

MC3