Graham Norton was at the helm of his Sunday Virgin Radio show today after he recently announced he was stepping away to get his “weekends back” after 13 years of radio presenting.
Norton joined the station back in 2021, following a decade on BBC Radio 2 but has since revealed he will be handing over the reigns to someone else.
The 60-year-old informed his listeners about his last show over on his Instagram account this morning and said: “Here we go! One last spin!! Thanks to everyone @virginradiouk and everyone who has listened along the way!! Three hours to go – must not swear!!” (sic).
As he opened up his show he told listeners: “Well, here we go, one last gallop around the paddock. Many thanks to Amy [Voce] for breakfast. I’m Graham Norton and I will be here till 12:30pm, I promise you that.”
Amy Voce, whose programme airs before Norton’s, noted she was “gutted” to hear he was leaving but agreed he deserved his weekends back after he “put in a shift”.
Norton read out a number of messages from listener who said they would miss him, as one admitted they were “distraught” but hoped he enjoyed the lie-ins.
The chat show host responded: “I will, getting out of bed this morning was so lovely, thinking ‘I won’t be doing this next week’.”
For his last day he was also joined by long-standing presenting partner Maria McErlane for another edition of Graham’s Guide, which saw the pair try and help listeners find a solution to their problems.
Callum Scott Howells, who stars in BBC drama The Way, and actress Laura Donnelly, who will feature in the West End play The Hills of California, also joined Norton for a chat.
Angela Scanlon is taking temporary responsibility for the radio show, with Norton telling his listeners: “Angela Scanlon will be here for the next few weeks and I think there'll be various announcements after that about people who'll be in front of this microphone, keeping you entertained on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Angela Scanlon will be replacing Graham Norton temporarily
BBC
“I'll still be popping up at the station from time to time, but my regular Saturday and Sundays, I'm stepping away.
“I've worked weekends between here and the old place for 13 years and my life has changed a bit, so I thought, Oh, I want my weekends back.”
Scanlon was among the many of those who responded to the news of his departure and commented “miss you already” on his joint Instagram post with Virgin Radio.
Norton joined Radio 2 back in 2010 on the 10am to 1pm Saturday show, where he took over from Jonathan Ross.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Graham Norton is leaving his Virgin Radio show
BBC/VIRGIN RADIO
After 11 successful years, he moved to Virgin Radio in 2021 where his BBC show was taken over by Strictly Come Dancing host, Claudia Winkleman.
Despite stepping away from his radio role, Norton will continue to host his highly popular Friday night chat show – The Graham Norton Show – where he interviews the biggest names in the entertainment industry.