Graham Norton fans are convinced they know his next career move after broadcasting legend announces shock departure from Virgin Radio

Graham Norton has confirmed he is leaving his weekend shows on Virgin Radio after three years.

And devastated fans think they know it’s the… The Irish presenter, 60, is moving on as they speculate he will take over Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs following his death last week.

Steve, 69, was found dead in his £2million London flat on MondayT days after reportedly speaking to BBC bosses – and ahead of a meeting to reportedly hold a comeback on a new ‘pop nostalgia’ Radio 2 spin-off channel.

While the broadcaster was ousted from its coveted afternoon slot on the channel in 2022 after 23 years, it had continued to record the weekly Steve Wright’s Love Songs, the most recent edition of which aired earlier this month.

With the Sunday slot still in need of a permanent replacement, fans believe Graham is the perfect fit as he presented a Saturday show for a decade until defecting to Virgin Radio in 2021.

A fan told X, formerly known as

‘It’s so sad to hear that Graham Norton is leaving Virgin Radio. Is it Sunday Love Songs that beckon?’

‘He’s going back to radio 2 for love songs, I bet!!!’

But despite certain fans, Radio 2, who replaced Steve in 2022 after 23 years of hosting with Scott Mills, announced Nicki Chapman as temporary presenter earlier this week.

Nicki shared the news on Instagram, writing: ‘Back with the R2 Family this weekend. In the coming weeks I will be hosting Sunday Love Songs on @bbcradio2 and would love to hear from you.

‘Is there a birthday, an anniversary or someone getting married that you know? Or maybe you just want to thank someone very special. Send your dedication by emailing lovesongs@bbc.co.uk.

‘Come to BBC Radio 2 on Sunday morning from 9am. Thanks xx’.

Graham has co-hosted the Graham Norton Radio Show on the station with Maria McErlane since 2021.

Graham announced the news of his departure live on Saturday’s show, saying: The show isn’t quite the normal show today as I have a little announcement to make. I’m a bit away! I’m leaving for the weekends here at Virgin Radio.’

Graham added that he is not leaving Virgin Radio completely, but will be relinquishing its weekend schedule with immediate effect.

His last weekend show is on Sunday, February 25.

Virgin Radio revealed that Strictly Come Dancing star Angela Scanlon will perform in the coming weeks and told listeners to ‘get ready for an exciting announcement’.

Graham explained live on air: ‘I still come to the station occasionally, but I step away on my regular Saturday and Sunday.

‘I worked weekends between here and the old place for 13 years and my life changed a bit, so I thought, “Oh, I want my weekends back!”

“So basically on the next two shows, today and tomorrow, I just want to thank you for listening.”

On the future of the morning session, he said: “Angela Scanlon will be here for the next few weeks and I think after that there will be several announcements about people who will be in front of this microphone so you can enjoy yourself. on Saturday and Sunday mornings.’

When Graham first joined Virgin Radio, content director Mike Cass said: “Graham Norton is one of the few truly unique talents in broadcasting. I am delighted to welcome him to the Virgin Radio family in the new year.

“He will bring double the humor, double the banter and double the love on Saturday and Sunday.”

Graham has repeatedly said that he is cutting back on his work and that he does not want to continue until he is too old.

He told SiriusXm in September 2019, “We’re on the air 35 to 36 weeks a year now. So if I shorten that, maybe ten weeks off, I think that would be ideal.

“What I could try is just reduce my workload.”

And in 2015, he said he would retire before he was 60.

He told the Mirror: ‘I’m not going to jump tomorrow but it’s in my head. You want to get out while you can still enjoy your life.

‘My neighbors worked and worked and made the world trip of their lives. They had to be airlifted three times because they were too old for the journey. Every time they walked they got stuck.

‘So I don’t want to be them. You want to stop working when you still have time to enjoy your life.’

It was previously reported that Graham was in the running to take over Steve Wright’s Love Songs on BBC Radio 2 following the veteran DJ’s death.

Wright has fronted Sunday Love Songs since 1996 – featuring classic romantic songs, along with devotions and real love stories.

The final edition, which was recorded, will not be broadcast. But reports suggest the BBC is planning to continue Love Songs in some form with a new presenter.

Among those introduced by media insiders included singer and presenter Michael Ball, Davina McCall and Graham, who presented a Saturday show for a decade until defecting to Virgin Radio in 2021.

Ball already presents a show on Radio 2 on Sundays, meaning he may have to forgo the 11am time slot if he wants to step into Wright’s shoes. McCall, meanwhile, has replaced Claudia Winkleman, who will leave her Saturday morning show in March.

Grant Michaels, director of talent agency Encanta, says the BBC is stuck between trying to shake up the channel’s male line-up and avoiding alienating Radio 2’s already dwindling audience.