Norton chatshow heads to BBC1

But the BBC has scotched suggestions he is being lined up to replace Jonathan Ross – stressing that there is room for a number of key presenters on BBC1.

Jay Hunt, the channel’s controller, told a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch that she had already spoken to Ross and his agent Addisson Cresswell and that both were keen to invite Norton on to Friday Night With Jonathan Ross to mark his move to the channel.

She added that Norton had been “toned down” for BBC2 and that his show would be slightly changed for the flagship channel. But he will not become as risqué as he sometimes was on his Channel 4 show, So Graham Norton, or compromise his reputation as a family entertainer.

“Graham is a very sophisticated entertainer and is fantastically good at engaging with audiences,” she said. “He’s not going to have a mandate saying, ‘Let your hair down, mate and be incredibly rude [on your chat show]’.”

The Graham Norton Show is planned for 10.35pm weekday slot, thought to be a Monday – in a bid to attract younger viewers.

“What we’re trying to do at 10.35pm is…grow that as a destination slot for 25-44 year old viewers. Graham’s show will come back to BBC1 as part of that mix,” Hunt said.

BBC1 is also talking to the presenter about a potential new talent show and has already handed him a new gameshow, Totally Saturday, and a contract to replace Terry Wogan as presenter of Eurovision Song Contest.