Graham Norton to quit Radio 2
- After a decade on air, Graham Norton is to stop presenting his Saturday morning radio show in December
- He says: "I'll miss being a part of the Wogan House family, as well as the listeners and their lives"
- Update: He is due to join Virgin Radio in January, presenting a show on Saturday and Sundays
Graham Norton is to stand down from presenting his weekend show on BBC Radio 2.
He has hosted the station's Saturday 10am to 1pm slot since October 2010, having taken over from Jonathan Ross.
The station confirms: "Ten years after presenting his first Saturday morning show for the station, Graham will present his last programme on Saturday 19 December 2020."
The comedian will continue to work with the BBC in other ways though. The Graham Norton Show continues on BBC One, and he will continue to present other TV formats.
Norton says: "Obviously I'm sad to be stepping away from my Radio 2 show. I'll miss being a part of the Wogan House family, as well as the listeners and their lives. I'd like to thank my producer Malcolm Prince and all the teams I've worked with for a great decade of radio. Happily with the chat show, Eurovision and Drag Race the BBC continues to be my perfect TV home."
Radio 2 boss Helen Thomas says: "For the past decade, Graham has made Saturday mornings his own on Radio 2. His sparkling interviews, as well as his brilliant shows from the Eurovision host city each May, have kept millions of listeners entertained each week. On behalf of the Radio 2 listeners, and everyone in Wogan House, we'd like to thank him and wish him the very best of luck for the future."
Charlotte Moore from the BBC says: "Graham Norton will be hugely missed on Saturday mornings on Radio 2, he is a first class broadcaster but I'm thrilled he's committed to continuing to be a regular fixture on the BBC as the host of his hugely popular and award-winning The Graham Norton Show, the BBC's coverage of Eurovision and Drag Race UK."
New plans for the Saturday morning Radio 2 schedule will be announced in due course.
Update: Norton to join Virgin Radio
Monday 16th November update: Virgin Radio says: "We're delighted to announce that Graham Norton is joining our presenter line-up to host a new weekend show, on both Saturdays and Sundays!"
Norton will begin on the station in January.
He says: "I am excited and a little surprised to be joining Virgin Radio UK in 2021. I was very content where I was but the opportunity to host shows across the weekend seemed too good to miss out on. Plus the energy and enthusiasm at Virgin Radio are infectious and I can't wait to get started! Did I mention the studios are very close to my house?"