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.

It was lovely, so moving. And I always love when she talks about 'Mikey', I loved him too. I have had a soft spot for Jay for forever, but particularly since his documentary about learning to read at 51. And who knew Arnie was so lovely and funny? Even Jack Whitehall wasn't as irritating as usual (ok, he was, a bit). Graham Norton is at least as good a talk show host as Michael Parkinson was, maybe better. He gets the absolute best out of everyone - and always has a good mix of people who work together so well. Particular favourite mixes for me have been Catherine Tate and Tom Cruise and Greg Davies and Ryan Gosling. The latter two in each pair being utterly in stitches. Such lovely viewing.

Graham Norton is at least as good a talk show host as Michael Parkinson was, maybe better. He gets the absolute best out of everyone - and always has a good mix of people who work together so well.

I think he's better. He doesn't seem to have difficult interviewees. It's such a great format having them all on the sofa together. They might sometimes be pissed but it does make it seem like the best kind of dinner party

Is it? What does she have.

I saw this on twitter and thought it was just lovely - genuinely soul-lifting.

I'm not sure why the sonnets were meant to be heard not read? But she transforms it into a performance and it's beautiful.

Is it not just because so few people could read in sixteenth / seventeenth century so most writing and ballads were designed to be spoken or sung.

Judi Dench showed us the meaning of real magic.

No, not things like the sonnets. They weren't folk songs, they were coterie poetry and a calling card ('look how upmarket my writing is').

I think

Awww my ocado delivery chap delivered to JD when she lived a couple of villages from me. Her husband was director of the RSC.

Apparently she is as delightful as we all hope. Even to the supermarket delivery guy 😁

Thanks for sharing, I missed the start of the show last night.

I could listen to that voice all day long. Its like a warm hug.

But even culturally there was a greater tradition historically of reading aloud as a past time.

I didn't do Shakespeare in school and haven't really read him.

What was her sonnet actually about.?

I couldn't understand a word of the sonnet but I could have listened to her voice for hours anyway.

My only Shakespeare experience was reading the Merchant of Venice in school aged 15.

Maybe I should try again

Absolutely

Here you go.

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
(Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

True, but I think she was just transformative - she performed it as an actor and it wasn't just about a good text coming into its own because it was read aloud.

Basically, 'I feel awful and wish I was anyone else.Then I think of you, and I wouldn't trade places with anyone.'

The sonnet is saying that when you want to try and be a massive blingy success. And are failing, but you realise that you are a success because you have love. Which is why Shakespeare is always relevant.

It's Judi Dench's least favourite play by Shakespeare

Thanks everyone for explaining it to me. Makes me want to read more Shakespeare but i would need it explained to me

It shouldn’t need explaining. You can feel it.

The way her face and eyes physically transformed during it was incredible. Very moving

It's actually a v relevant sonnet for today - 'when I check my IG I get rly bad FOMO; then I look at you on the other end of the sofa - irl - and I LOL.'

It's been done to music by Rufus Wainwright and it's lovely