Graham Norton has agreed a £3.5-million deal to leave Channel 4 in favour of the BBC. The contract will see the bawdy comic, who is renowned for his camp humour, producing and appearing in a number of Saturday night shows.
The 40-year-old's racy wit may seem a little risqué by the Beeb's standards, but the national broadcaster has been trying to sign him for quite some time. "It's been my ambition to work with Graham Norton ever since I took up the entertainment role," revealed programming chief Jane Lush. "We've spent a lot of time and effort in getting him."
For the past two years the Irishman has been hosting his Channel 4 show five nights a week. Station insiders report that he has grown tired with the constant routine, however, and is hungry to try something new.
"We've made no secret of our admiration for Graham Norton and I'm thrilled he feels that we could offer him the space to grow creatively," said Beeb controller Lorraine Heggessey. "I'm convinced he will delight viewers of all ages at the heart of the Saturday night schedule."
2003 has been a big year for the Dublin-born star, as he has also made inroads into the US market, with a show for Comedy Network. The irrepressible entertainer, who got his first break with a small part in the series Father Ted, will be working on that until he moves to the BBC.
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