Guy Pearce, Tim Minchin, draw 448,000 for Denton’s ‘Interview’

Candid interviews by Guy Pearce and Tim Minchin drew 448,000 overnight metro views for Andrew Denton’s ‘Interview’ on the Seven network.

It was the 9^th highest rating non-news and current affairs show last night.

Aside from his acting, Pearce spoke at length about his Nomad album, inspired by the collapse of his marriage to his childhood sweetheart Kate.

The songs, he said, were inspired by his travels after the split, especially after she had provided a firm “grounding” for him through the years.

“I knew I’d be OK and it was important that she knew.”

Nomad was dedicated to his ex-wife, as well as his mother who is in care for Alzheimer’s and his father whom he “learned to forgive” for leaving him at the age of eight in an accident.

Pearce drew gasps from the studio audience when responding to a question about working with Kevin Spacey, now the centre of numerous sexual allegations.

Cryptically Pearce said, “Yeah. He’s – he’s a handsy guy (pause) Thankfully I was 29 and not 14.”

Tim Minchin used his appearance to preview a song 15 Minutes of Shame from his next solo album.

He spoke at length about his satisfaction at how his song Come Home (Cardinal Pell) became an anthem although he baulked at the fact he was ill, jetlagged and overweight during the making of its video.

Minchin also described how he was hoping that his musical Groundhog Day – which closed on Broadway after six months following a successful run in the UK – would be revived because “I need it to heal.”