Channel 4 Confirms Norton To Quit As Contract Expires
Channel 4 has today confirmed that Graham Norton’s five nights a week entertainment show is to come to an end following the comic’s decision not to renew his contract with the broadcaster.
The presenter was due to do one more series of V Graham Norton before his exclusive contract with Channel 4 expires in April next year. However, it is understood that plans for a final series have now been scrapped.
Channel 4’s director of television, Kevin Lygo, said: “Graham has enjoyed phenomenal success on Channel 4 in the last five years and we’re very proud to have been associated with such a key phase in his career. Only Channel 4 would have taken the risk of commissioning a five nights a week chat show for 10pm and only Graham had the talent to pull it off.”
He added: “We’ve been discussing for some time where we go from here and both sides agree it would be very difficult to top what Graham has already achieved at Channel 4. It therefore feels like the right time for him to be moving on and he goes with our best wishes and heartfelt thanks for everything he’s done for the channel.”
V Graham Norton launched in May 2002 and proved something of a ratings winner for Channel 4 in its original 10pm slot. However, viewing figures improved when the show was moved to the later time of 10.30pm to accommodate for the last two series of Big Brother.
Analysis of the latest BARB figures shows that audiences for V Graham averaged around 2.5 million. However, viewing peaked at the 4 million mark in July 2002 before dipping back down to below 3 million in October and November this year.
Channel 4 recently brought together a range of representatives from across the industry to push the benefits of television as an advertising medium. A special seminar was held last week to introduce marketers to the power of television advertising and challenge the misconceptions surrounding the medium (see Channel 4 Leads Drive To Promote Television Advertising).
Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.co.uk
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