Ross faces £4m-a-year pay cut as BBC lines up rivals to replace him

By
Paul Revoir and Liz Thomas
Last updated at 8:53 AM on 07th January 2010

Jonathan Ross’s future at the BBC appeared uncertain last night, after it emerged that his main chat-show rival had been signed up for a lucrative deal.
Graham Norton has a £4million contract to stay at the corporation for another two years and is rumoured as a replacement for Ross on his Friday night chat show.
In addition, it has been suggested that movie critic Mark Kermode could be lined up to take the controversial star’s movie review slot, Film 2010.
Jonathan Ross’s £6m-a-year pay deal with the BBC has been heavily criticised
If that happened, Ross would be left with his Saturday morning Radio 2 show and a huge pay cut.
Senior BBC managers are said to see him as jaded and are keen to promote younger talent. A second meeting regarding Ross’s new BBC contract is still pending, less than six months before his controversial £6million-a-year exclusive deal runs out.
While Norton’s negotiations are said to have gone smoothly - despite a £500,000-ayear pay cut - corporation bosses are preparing for bruising talks with Ross, 49. Executives are said to have discussed replacing him on Friday nights with Norton, and giving Norton’s current Monday night slot to comedian Michael McIntyre. Mark Kemode (left) and Graham Norton have been touted as possible replacements for Jonathan Ross
Ross has offered to take a 50 per cent pay cut. But insiders at the corporation say this will not be enough. If he stays they are likely to look for at least a two-thirds cut to his deal, putting him on the same as Norton on £2million a year. They could allow him to work with other channels, to bring the price down.
Ross is not in a strong negotiating position. Critics claim his Friday night show has lost its sparkle since he returned from suspension after the Andrew Sachs scandal. And with the financial crisis hitting the TV industry badly, few of the BBC’s rivals would want him on an exclusive deal.
A senior BBC insider said: ‘Jonathan Ross and his salary have become an albatross for the BBC so I think the mood now is to do something about that in this round of deals.
‘There is less money around and there are other high profile stars around - Michael McIntyre has tremendous public appeal at the moment. Ratings for Jonathan’s Radio 2 show have gone down and his chat show is only averaging between three million and 3.5million. All of that has to be considered when you are looking at a new contract.’
A source close to Ross said: ‘Jonathan’s deal is about output. It is not about money. He had one conversation (with the BBC) before Christmas and he will be meeting them again in the next month or so.
‘Jaded’: Jonathan Ross and wife Jane Goldman
The BBC is understood to be looking at grooming McIntyre into one of its major performers. His BBC1 series Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow has regularly pulled in audiences of around five million. The 33-year-old’s DVD was also a bestseller at Christmas.
Russell Brand and Ross caused public outrage in October 2008 by leaving expletiveladen messages about actor Andrew Sach’s granddaughter Georgina Baillie on his answering machine.
The vile messages were then broadcast on Russell Brand’s Radio 2 show, prompting around 54,000 complaints.
The incident brought the BBC into disrepute and cost two senior executives at the station their jobs. Brand resigned but Ross escaped with a three-month suspension.
McIntyre hosted Live at the Apollo, the replacement show for Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, during his suspension.
The series, which showcased stand-up comedians, pulled in 3.5million viewers - a similar figure to what Ross was achieving but at a fraction of the cost.

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I do like Graham Norton
- daves, braintree uk, 07/1/2010 09:43

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‘People who are in charge of running this country are paid a mere fraction of Johnathon’s money.
Where are we going wrong?’
- jane, Scunthorpe, 07/1/2010 09:08
I suppose that depends on whether you take their expenses into account.
- Sue, Scotland, 07/1/2010 09:40

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Please replace him with Graham Norton,
at least he is funny.
- tony, cardiff, 07/1/2010 09:34

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Hurray cheered me up no end!
- burtieb, Yes I am. Kent, 07/1/2010 09:33

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review the pay structures at the bbc,make the top salary £100,000 a year,and make the people justify thier salary.
- silver fox, farnworth bolton england, 07/1/2010 09:27

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GOOD RIDDANCE TO ROSS
- JAN, SHROPSHIRE, 07/1/2010 09:23

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