How are British talk shows different that their American counterparts? Let us count the ways: Alcohol, un-bleeped f-bombs, and blinding pink sets, for starters — at least on the BBC's Graham Norton Show. Also, it apparently makes sense to pair Monty Python alumnus John Cleese, pop star Taylor Swift, and cricket player Kevin Pietersen as guests. And have them talk about cats. Cleese and Swift are both cat people — according to Saturday night's program, Swift has two, Cleese, 17 — and Pietersen is allergic and "not a massive fan."
Pietersen's impolitic dislike of felines initially caused an alliance between Cleese and Swift, but Cleese seemed intent to sink it. "How did it have its accident?" he asked after Norton showed a photo of Swift's undamaged Scottish Fold cat. Swift looked stunned, so Norton retaliated with a photo of one of Cleese's abnormally large felines. Cleese wasn't done, though. After Pietersen started off a discussion about the difference between dogs and cats, Cleese interjected: "I much prefer cats. They're unpredictable, and cussed — like women," he added, turning suddenly to look at Swift.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The Spanish cop, 20 million euros and 13 tonnes of cocaineIn the Spotlight Óscar Sánchez Gil, Chief Inspector of Spain's Economic and Tax Crimes Unit, has been arrested for drug trafficking
-
5 hilarious cartoons about the rise and fall of Matt GaetzCartoons Artists take on age brackets, backbiting, and more
-
The future of XTalking Point Trump's ascendancy is reviving the platform's coffers, whether or not a merger is on the cards
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
