Judi Dench on Graham Norton last night

[PuppyMonkey]

Just in case anybody missed this, a little piece of magic.

Also Jay Blades choking up remembering the chap who saved his life one very low day for him.

Proper emotional.

She really is wonderful. Some years I saw her in a play called Peter and Alice where she played the elderly Alice Liddell, who was the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland.

At one point Alice talks about her childhood and I don't know how Judi did it, but she just seemed to transform into a little girl on stage. I've never seen anything like it, she was remarkable.

Thank you op- spellbinding. We saw her perform with Kenneth Branagh in the winters tale a few years ago- absolutely magical.

That was wonderful , my bladder is too near my eyes

Absolutely, Shakespeare should be heard, not read.

I have no idea why schools give our GCSE students a Shakespeare play as a text to be 'read', the same as Jekyll and Hyde, or whatever. It is dead on the page. It is only when it is performed/heard that it comes alive.

Dame Judi reduced me to tears too. She's spoken for several years about her declining eyesight, yet still she still holds such amazing literature in her mind, and can recall it without a visual prompt. That is awe-inspiring.

Ah I’m glad you all loved it too.

Breathtaking. She (and Shakespeare) are simply sublime.

Going to see her at the Lowry tomorrow! Can't wait!

Wow.

"And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries" is such a brilliant line

I loved the Countryfile recent programme, with Dame Judi Dench. That too was heartwarming.

I normally find the GN Show a bit exhausting but last night's was surprisingly heartwarming all round.

I’ve loved Judi since I was a little girl. I remember seeing a feature in my grandmother’s ‘She’ magazine (in the late 60’s) about her playing Titania and in the accompanying photo, she was practically naked in a suit of leaves and with that elfin hair cut, she just entranced me. Years later, I was lucky enough to see her as Lady Bracknell. She can do no wrong in my book. Must watch this on catch up later.

ah that was lovely! what sonnet was that ?

She is amazing - do try to catch her on stage, because to see/hear her perform live is a privilege.

I’m only one step removed from Arnie.

My cousin is a film director who directed him in a film. He says he is a wonderful guy.

I seem to have a little something in my eye...

We saw that too! We thought Kenneth rather over acted but Judi was incredible and completely stole the show.

It was a great episode. She was breathtaking. I loved that Arnie had some his homework and the interaction with him and Jay was lovely. He came across as a genuinely nice man.

I live near Stratford and some years ago when she was appearing at the RSC I saw her on the banks of the Avon with a friend. I gasped out loud to see her and she laughed and we had quite a long chat and sat on a bench nattering. We talked about theatre and children - one of mine was doing goldfish impressions because he'd recently seen her on stage.

Many, many years ago at the beginning of her career I saw her in Midsummer Night's Dream with a young cast who went on to great things. It had a profound effect on me and I chose drama as my university study and taught it for many years.

https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/mnd196204

So much love for her.

Just stunning! Love how Dame Judi commands a crowd’s attention.

I genuinely think Graham Norton has a very rare gift. On what other planet could the range of guests he has one his wonderful show sit on a sofa and gel so magically? And it's all facilitated by him.

Dame Judi of course was spellbinding, as he said. The wonderful thing about spoken Shakespeare is that you might not understand every word or phrase or line, but it weaves together into a magical tapestry that really can touch your soul.

Brilliant episode. I felt so touched by Dame Judi and Jay... He is an amazing role model.

Love Arnie. 'That's more dialogue than I've had in all my films.'

He's very good at having people drop their guard. Disarming. He'd make a good counsellor in another life.

Graham Norton is just brilliant

Love him