Graham Norton confirms he is leaving Virgin Radio’s weekend show after three years of shock announcement
Graham Norton has confirmed he is leaving his weekend shows on Virgin Radio after three years.
The Irish presenter, 60, has co-hosted the Graham Norton Radio Show on the channel with Maria McErlane since 2021.
Graham announced the news of his departure live on Saturday’s show: “It’s my last weekend of shows here at Virgin Radio.”
Graham added that he is not leaving Virgin Radio completely, but will be relinquishing its weekend schedule with immediate effect.
His last weekend show is on Sunday, February 25.
Virgin Radio revealed that Angela Scanlon will perform in the coming weeks and told listeners to ‘get ready for an exciting announcement’.
Graham Norton has confirmed he is leaving his weekend shows on Virgin Radio after three years
The Irish presenter said he is not leaving Virgin Radio completely, but will step back from its weekend schedule with immediate effect
When Graham first joined Virgin Radio, content director Mike Cass said: “Graham Norton is one of the few truly unique talents in broadcasting. I am delighted to welcome him to the Virgin Radio family in the new year.
“He will bring double the humor, double the banter and double the love on Saturday and Sunday.”
Graham has repeatedly said that he is cutting back on his work and that he does not want to continue until he is too old.
He told SiriusXm in September 2019, “We’re on the air 35 to 36 weeks a year now. So if I shorten that, maybe ten weeks off, I think that would be ideal.
“What I could try is just reduce my workload.”
And in 2015, he said he would retire before he was 60.
He told the Mirror: ‘I’m not going to jump tomorrow but it’s in my head. You want to get out while you can still enjoy your life.
Virgin Radio revealed Angela Scanlon will step in in the coming weeks and told listeners to ‘get ready for an exciting announcement’
‘My neighbors worked and worked and made the world trip of their lives. They had to be airlifted three times because they were too old for the journey. Every walk they took they got stuck.
‘So I don’t want to be them. You want to stop working when you still have time to enjoy your life.’
Graham is reportedly in the running to take over Steve Wright’s Love Songs on BBC Radio 2 following the veteran DJ’s death.
Wright, 69, was found dead at his £2million flat days in London after reportedly speaking to BBC bosses – and ahead of a meeting to reportedly stage a comeback on a new ‘pop nostalgia’ Radio 2 spin-off station to discuss.
And although the broadcaster was unceremoniously kicked out of the coveted afternoon slot in 2022 after 23 years, it had continued to record the weekly Steve Wright’s Love Songs, the most recent edition of which aired last weekend.
Wright has fronted the show since 1996, performing classic romantic songs, along with devotions and real-life love stories.
Singer and presenter Michael Ball (left) and veteran presenter and ex-Radio 2 presenter Graham Norton (right) are among those tipped to take over Love Songs
The final edition, which was recorded, will not be broadcast. But reports suggest the BBC is planning to continue Love Songs in some form with a new presenter.
Among those suggested by media insiders include singer and presenter Michael Ball, Davina McCall and Graham, who presented a Saturday show for a decade until defecting to Virgin Radio in 2021.
Ball already presents a show on Radio 2 on Sundays, meaning he may have to forgo the 11am time slot if he wants to step into Wright’s shoes. McCall, meanwhile, has replaced Claudia Winkleman, who will leave her Saturday morning show in March.
Grant Michaels, director of talent agency Encanta, says the BBC is stuck between trying to shake up the channel’s male line-up and avoiding alienating Radio 2’s already dwindling audience.