Recent articles
The BBC is reportedly holding crisis talks as it attempts to find a new prime-time show for one of its highest-paid stars, Graham Norton.
The presenter, who has a £7.5million three-year deal, has been left without a big Saturday night hit after Andrew Lloyd Webber pulled the plug on a new musical reality show.
Norton had been due to present a talent search to find stars for The Wizard Of Oz, however, the show was axed when composer Lloyd Webber pulled out over fears he would be accused of using it to promote his Phantom Of The Opera sequel.
A BBC source told The Sun: "It has seriously screwed us. That show would have given Graham 12 weeks of work. Now there's nothing."
The news comes just weeks after the presenter's latest series, Totally Saturday, was axed after ratings plummeted during the show's run. Norton has enjoyed massive success with musical-based shows such as Any Dream Will Do and How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? however, other programmes he's been involved in including Strictly Dance Fever and The One And Only have failed to pull in massive audiences.
A BBC spokesperson said: "Graham is a hugely talent and valued presenter at the BBC. His chat show returns to BBC1 later this year and we are look at a range of projects with him for 2010 which we will be announcing in due course."
What would you like to see Graham Norton do next at the BBC? Do you have any programme ideas? Let us know...
- More TV: What's on later? | Big Brother news
Follow the Yahoo! Entertainment team on Twitter - http://twitter.com/YahooUKEnts
Comment on this article
Please sign in to add your comments.
User comments
graham norton is rubbish
Posted by: michaelwright358 on Wed Jul 22 03:21PM | Report abuseI cant understand why people today like watching Graham Norton, myself and partner thinks he is an absolute plonker! I have never and repeat will never watch his shows, we couldnt careless how talented he is - put him somewhere useful like the 'weakest link' or some other game show which people would like to see him regularly hosting, but please no more, Jonathan Ross, Chris Moyle are the best... I have nothing against Gays as I have known a few and they are really cool!! but Graham Norton no way!!!!
Posted by: bigbyjenny on Wed Jul 22 03:23PM | Report abusePersonally, I do not like Graham Norton, and certainly object to the salary he is allegedly getting! I rarely watch programs he is in because I tend not to favour music shows and am generally not a fan of his anyway. However, I also object to the homophobic comments from garyholdstock2002 and johnhannon. There is nothing 'wrong' with being gay, celebrity or not. There have been many successful, gay celebrities (long before Graham Norton) who were funny, cool, entertaining and outwardly camp. You don't "try out" being gay - you are, or you aren't. How ignorant are you? FYI - I am not gay, I am happily married and a father of non-gay children. Just so you don't think I am defending my 'own' in some way, not that I'd be ashamed of being gay if I were. You of course are entitled to your opinion, but to suggest it is socially "wrong" to be gay is clearly a very misinformed one.
Posted by: tx2online on Wed Jul 22 04:05PM | Report abuseI think it is terrible as he is a very good intertainer and I am sure he would take a smaller salary if offered he is absolutely brillant
Posted by: j.lappin161 on Wed Jul 22 04:28PM | Report abuseI like Graham Norton well enough but why is ANYONE earning £7.5m for 3 years work?
Posted by: carie.lyndene on Wed Jul 22 04:41PM | Report abuseGraham Norton should be sacked, he is not worth the money he is being payed. A complete waste of license payers money.
Posted by: cliff.robinson33 on Wed Jul 22 05:12PM | Report abuseReality shows - just what we need, (NOT), hows about some good old fashioned entertainment instead of spending big dosh on presenters - invest it in a watchable programme!
Posted by: ourjayem on Wed Jul 22 05:12PM | Report abuseWhy does Graham Norton need a fifth rate composer to front a show? The previous reality TV shows with ALW were terrible television. Norton has proved himself as an entertainer on stage, why not have a variety show with him fronting it?
Posted by: grahamdavidcowley on Wed Jul 22 05:12PM | Report abuseJust get rid of him-permanently! He is a total waste of space and money.
Posted by: venom2 on Wed Jul 22 05:12PM | Report abuseThank god he has not got a show my cat has got more talent than Norton
Posted by: georgehtaylor1 on Wed Jul 22 05:13PM | Report abuse