‘I’m fantastic, despite my age,’ Jonathan Ross says as we settle down for a chat. ‘I’m turning 66 this year. I shouldn’t really be working.’
Decades as the country’s finest chat show host, film critic, and most stylish Traitor to date, and Wossy isn’t slowing down just yet.
In fact Jonathan currently presents Classic FM’s blockbuster film music programme, as well as weekly movie podcast Reel Talk alongside his daughter Honey.
Even his wife, Jane Goldman, is in the industry, having worked on films including Kick Ass and X-Men: First Class.
If you haven’t gathered yet, Jonathan loves film. And there’s one controversial film opinion that he’ll defend no matter what.
Despite recently interviewing the man himself, the award-winning broadcaster insists: ‘I’m not part of the cult of Christopher Nolan.’
So much so that he was left ‘begging for release’ when watching 2023 award-winning biographical thriller Oppenheimer.
‘I do enjoy some of his movies, but I thought Oppenheimer was one of the most boring movies, one of the dullest experiences I’ve ever had at the cinema,’ Jonathan laughs.
‘The final third of that movie… I was begging for release. It has some incredible moments in it, so his skill as a filmmaker is beyond doubt and unquestionable. But I do think, as a writer, I find him wanting sometimes. And that was possibly my problem with The Odyssey as well.’
Jonathan, a lover of cult films, insists: ‘Ultimately opinions, of course, are all valid. I do often find that I’m very surprised by the movies that people rave about and the movies that get awards. Obviously, I like to think I’m right and everyone else is wrong, but I’m old enough to realise that’s just vanity.’
With a passion for music as well as film, Jonathan shared his love of Nolan’s Hans Zimmer scores, but couldn’t possibly choose between the composer and award-winning John Williams if he had to pick a favourite.
‘I’m very angry that you’ve asked me this question,’ he laughs. ‘I wouldn’t want to never be able to hear the Harry Potter score again, or Star Wars, or Superman. But some of Zimmer’s more interesting stuff, like his score for True Romance, The Thin Red Line, they were amazing.
‘As well as his Disney work, and his stuff with Nolan. The Interstellar score is extraordinarily good, as is Inception. So, I wouldn’t really want to choose.’
Classic FM’s Movie Music Hall of Fame countdown
Metro is proud to have partnered with Classic FM for their Movie Music Hall of Fame poll.
Whether it’s a 21st-century box office hit or a timeless classic from Hollywood’s golden era, join Classic FM on Monday 31 August from 10am-7pm to count down the final Top 100 with the grand finale hosted by Jonathan Ross.
Classic FM’s Aled Jones’ choice:
Schindler’s list – John Williams
‘It’s one of John Williams’ most achingly beautiful pieces that can’t fail to touch the soul. I love it!’
Classic FM’s Margherita Taylor choice:
Star Wars – John Williams
‘A long time ago, in a cinema far, far away… One of the best intros in music got me totally hooked on the power of film music. No doubt the Force helped too.’
Reflecting on how much cinema has changed through the years, Jonathan looks back at his youth growing up in London and joining a film club in Gants Hill at the age of 14.
‘The world was such a different place. There weren’t even VHS players when I was little, so you couldn’t watch stuff on your own schedule,’ he tells us.
And despite having lived through so many eras of film, Jonathan doesn’t think we’re in the golden age of cinema in 2026.
‘I remember in the 70s when you’d see such a weird and broad variety of movies, some which you’d never heard of, popping up at your local,’ he explains.
‘You’d get the big hitters like The Exorcist, Star Wars, Alien, but you’d also have films like Death Race 2000 from Roger Corman popping up, or Salon Kitty, or one memorable time I went to see a double bill, which was a kung fu film called When Taekwondo Strikes, coupled with a soft-core porn movie called Black Emmanuelle, White Emmanuelle. Now, I’m not saying either of them were classics, but certainly it was an interesting time to be a young person.’
As for what’s tickled his fancy at the cinema this year, he tells us: ‘Obsession was one of my favourites. I’ve watched it three times now. The acting is great, especially Inde Navarrette. It’s just an interesting, immersive, unusual experience.
‘I enjoyed The Odyssey, but I didn’t rave about it as much as others, but I did think it was a fun night out at the cinema.’
Away from his obsession with film, Jonathan was hailed as ‘one of the greatest Traitors’ when he dipped his toe into the world of reality TV on The Celebrity Traitors last year.
‘Big Dog’ Jonathan played a brazen game with Alan Carr and Cat Burns alongside him as conniving traitors, telling remaining contestants during his banishment in episode seven that they were ‘idiots’. But it’s not all bad blood with the cast.
‘I still speak to all of them on and off. I’m meant to be having lunch with Celia Imrie quite soon. I organised a big Christmas lunch for all of us and we all got together. We had a really nice time,’ he tells us.
Some of the new faces set to appear on the show have even reached out to him for advice ahead of the new season airing later this year.
‘I spoke to quite a few of them before they went in. I had a brief chat with Michael Sheen. I had a longer chat with Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett, Maya Jama. Quite a few people called me and said they’d been asked to do it, and we chatted through what the experience was like,’ he says.
‘I’m always very honest because I did enjoy aspects of the experience and other things I really struggled with. It was quite tricky.’
Metro is partnering with Classic FM on the Movie Music Hall Of Fame. Hear the countdown in full on August 31 at 10am-7pm across the UK and on Global Player.