Jonathan Ross quits as BBC chooses rival Graham Norton

Ross has been one of the biggest faces at the BBC, with his Friday night chat show, his Radio 2 show and his film review programme.

His salary, a reported 18 million over three years, and the scandal over actor Andrew Sachs have recently caused controversy.

Ross, 49, who was the BBC's highest-paid star, said in a statement that he had decided not to renegotiate his contract when it ends at the end of July.

The news comes just a day after Graham Norton signed a two year deal to stay with the corporation. It has been reported that the Irish star agreed a 4m contract and accepted a pay cut but the BBC has refused to confirm the figure.

Norton was always tipped to take over Ross's Friday night talk show slot, while Radio 5 film critic Mark Kermode is now thought likely to be handed Ross's Film 2010 programme.

Ross had offered to take a 50% pay cut when his contract expired, which would have slashed his annual salary by 3 million.

But his spokesman said he was not in the middle of pay negotiations and said he would continue at the BBC until the summer.

In 2008, the controversial host was suspended for three months making a series of phone calls to actor Andrew Sachs on Russell Brand's Radio 2 show.

Ross and Brand's messages sparked more than 50,000 complaints - and led to Brand's decision to quit his radio show.

Today he said: "Although I have had a wonderful time working for the BBC, and am very proud of the shows I have made while there, over the last two weeks I have decided not to re-negotiate when my current contract comes to an end.

"While there I have worked with some of the nicest and most talented people in the industry and had the opportunity to interview some of the biggest stars in the world, and am grateful to the BBC for such a marvellous experience.

"I would like to make it perfectly clear that no negotiations ever took place and that my decision is not financially motivated.

"I signed my current contract with the BBC having turned down more lucrative offers from other channels because it was where I wanted to be and - as I have said before - would happily have stayed there for any fee they cared to offer, but there were other considerations.

"I love making my Friday night talk show, my Saturday morning radio show and the Film Programme, and will miss them all.

"I look forward to continuing work on these shows until the Summer, and I will continue hosting the Bafta Film Awards, Comic Relief and other BBC specials.

"Working at the BBC has been a tremendous privilege, and I would like to thank everyone who has watched and listened so loyally over the last 13 years."

Jana Bennett, director of BBC Vision, said she could "understand" Ross's decision "following a difficult year".

She said: "Jonathan Ross has told us that he's decided not to pursue the renewal of his contract with the BBC.

"Jonathan is an extremely talented broadcaster and his programmes for BBC TV and radio have been a great success.

"However, it's been a difficult year for him and I understand why he feels it's the right thing to do.

"I'm pleased that Jonathan will continue to apply his considerable abilities to the remaining six months of Friday Night, Film 2010 and his Radio 2 show, and I'm delighted that he will continue to present the Bafta awards and Comic Relief for BBC Television."

The BBC said of Graham Norton's signing: "We are delighted to be signing a new two-year deal with Graham Norton. He is a hugely talented and valued presenter at the BBC and we are thrilled to be continuing our relationship with him."

BBC creative director Alan Yentob denied that Ross's departure was "inevitable" following the fall-out over the Andrew Sachs affair.

"I don't think it was inevitable," he said. "Jonathan did take his punishment at the time. At the same time this is a guy who's big enough to make his own decisions. After a while he decided he wanted to take his break."

He added: "The year as a whole, with all that scrutiny and attention ... has obviously been a tough one for him."

Mr Yentob said it was "too premature" to make decisions on what will happen to Ross's Friday night slot.

Asked about speculation that Graham Norton was being lined up to replace Ross, he said: "You don't need to compare Graham with Jonathan Ross. No decisions have been taken with that slot."

Yentob said: "He intends to make the most of the next few months and go out with a bang. We shall do everything to support him. He is a brilliant performer.

"We must respect this decision and ensure that he gets all the support to make the shows as good as possible."

Yentob paid tribute to Ross as a "very talented performer", adding: "We shall miss him, there's no question about that... he's very proud of the work he's done."

Of his decision to quit, he said: "The other considerations, I think, are personal at the moment. He's said they're not financial and I absolutely believe him."

A BBC insider said today: "This was never about money. It was Jonathan Ross coming and saying 'given everything that's happened over the last year, I think it's time to take a break'. We sort of agreed.

"It was never the case of saying 'we were waiting to push him out of the door and waiting for him to leave'.

"No deal was ever going to be the right deal. It's been a tough year and it was going to be very difficult moving forward."

According to reports published earlier today, insiders at the Corporation did not think that Ross's offer of a 50% pay cut was enough as they would have wanted him to take a two-thirds cut to his deal, putting him on around 2 million a year, the same as Norton.