Irish chat show host Graham Norton, one of the leading television personalities on the BBC, has warned that he suspects both he and Gary Lineker could face the chop as the British national broadcaster reacts to new implementations brought in by the Tory government.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Norton, originally from Cork, quipped that the BBC officials have a tendency to “pick their targets” when determining which of their on-air talent to give the push. “There was Jonathan Ross, they saw him off,” Norton said. “Jeremy Clarkson, Chris Evans... So now they will pick whoever’s left, which is me and Gary Lineker.
“He’s not stupid, he must realise it will be one of us next,” Norton quipped.
The 53-year-old comedian, who has just published his first novel, will have his salary published by the broadcaster early in the New Year, as part of the ongoing pressure on the broadcaster by the British government to cut costs and become more transparent. Norton revealed he suspected his wage figure to come in behind Lineker’s, admitting “When it’s published, I will be looking to see how much everyone else gets.”
Norton also weighed in on the recent decision by Love Productions to accept a bigger offer from rival broadcaster Channel 4 to poach The Great British Bake Off from its home at the BBC after seven years on the air.
“Love Productions is looking bad, Channel 4 looks a bit stupid, for everyone else it’s collateral damage,” he said. “No matter how good it is on Channel 4, it will never be as good as it was on the BBC.”
