Tea but not much sympathy as Jonathan Ross quits BBC

• Jonathan Ross brings out cups of tea for the media after his announcement yesterday. Picture: PA

The presenter announced yesterday that he does not intend to renegotiate his lucrative contract with the BBC, and will seek pastures new when his current deal expires this summer.

Ross, who has contended with criticism in recent years over his salary and the notorious "Sachsgate" scandal, said his decision was based on "other considerations".

With his divorce from the corporation set for July, speculation was rife yesterday as to what the future holds for the 49-year-old, with moves to Sky, Channel 4, or even the United States mooted.

In a statement, the father of three expressed gratitude for his 13-year relationship with the BBC, and stressed that attempts to cut his rumoured 6 million salary were not a factor.

He said: "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 … would happily have stayed there for any fee they cared to offer, but there were other considerations."

With his irreverent style, Ross won a legion of fans, but remarks deemed crude and ill-judged led to a series of upsets, most notably his part in the scandal of obscene phone calls to actor Andrew Sachs in October 2008.

Having been suspended by the BBC, Ross offered hubris alongside humour, but, ever since, has endured under fierce scrutiny, portrayed in some quarters as a symbol of a state broadcaster that has become profligate and irresponsible.

In recent days, rumours suggested that the corporation was even planning to oust its highest-profile star from his prestigious Friday night BBC1 chat-show slot. There was talk of replacing him with Graham Norton.

It has been reported that Ross offered to take a 50 per cent pay cut, but the BBC wanted to reduce his salary by as much as two-thirds.

Jana Bennett, director of BBC Vision, praised Ross yesterday, but suggested he had elected to leave as a result of his beleaguered public standing.

She said: "Jonathan is an extremely talented broadcaster and his programmes for BBC television 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."

The BBC's creative director, Alan Yentob denied that Ross's departure was "inevitable" following the Andrew Sachs affair. He said: "This is a guy who's big enough to make his own decisions. After a while he decided he wanted to take his break."

HIS WIT AND WISDOM

On the Spice Girls' reunion: "They are reforming, in the same way they reform meat into nuggets. They're going to be Atomic Mutton."

Interviewing David Cameron: "Did you have a **** thinking of Margaret Thatcher?"

On sex: "I am inordinately fond of it. Some may say a little too fond, as it crops up with remarkable regularity."

On Heather Mills: "I wouldn't be surprised if we found out she's actually got two legs."

On fame: "Famous people are naturally cleverer than non-famous ones."

On model Abi Titmuss: "She's been tied to more bedposts than David Blunkett's dog."

On being antisocial on a flight: "This was the kind of fart that caused my fellow passengers to wonder if it really would be a bad idea to open the doors at 20,000ft."

On criticism of his salary: "I'm worth 1,000 BBC journalists."