Norton 'likely' to take over Ross's chat show on BBC 1

The funnyman emerged as an early frontrunner in January and the BBC now says he is "likely" to take his chat show to Fridays.

Norton has already been confirmed to take over Ross's Radio 2 show later this year.

Ross bows out from BBC1 tomorrow night and his final show for Radio 2 will be broadcast on Saturday after he decided to quit the corporation at the end of his current contract.

Norton is expected to move to the late-night Friday slot in October, with comedy show Would I Lie To You plugging the gap from next week, followed by programmes such as stand-up show Live At The Apollo.

A BBC spokeswoman said of the Norton move: "In all likelihood, when his show returns later in the year, it will play in the Friday night slot."

Ross recorded his final BBC chat show last night. He will host a similar format on ITV1 following a year's break.

Ross said he was "grateful, lucky and honoured" to have worked at the BBC.