Graham Norton announces exit from Virgin Radio: ‘I just want my weekends back’

Graham Norton is known for several shows, he has his TV show, The Graham Norton Show where he sits and chats with celebrities on a comfy sofa. He has also been a radio presenter for many years now.

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Before joining the Virgin Radio team, Graham Norton, 60, had a radio show with BBC Radio 2 for 10 years. The Irish presenter moved to Virgin Radio in 2021 and after 3 years there, he has finally decided it is time to step down.

As he made the announcement, Graham Norton revealed the reason he his giving up radio after so many years behind the microphone.

Graham Norton is stepping down from Virgin Radio

Graham Norton announced on Saturday, February 24 during his regular morning show that he was quitting radio after 13 years. As per Norton, the reason he is stepping back from radio is because he wants his ‘weekends back’.

Graham Norton said during his show, as per Sky News:

Now the show isn't quite the normal show today because I have a bit of an announcement to make - I'm leaving weekends here at Virgin Radio.

However, don’t worry, Norton isn’t fully retiring from radio. Indeed the 60-year-old revealed that he will still be ‘popping up’ occasionally on Virgin Radio, he just won’t be hosting his regular Saturday and Sunday shows:

I'll still be kind of popping up on the station from time to time but my regular Saturday and Sundays, I'm stepping away.

Finally, Norton explained that for the last 13 years, he has given his weekends to radio and his life has ‘changed a bit’, meaning he now wants to enjoy his weekends.

I've worked weekends between here and the old place for 13 years and my life has changed a bit so I just want my weekends back.

Fans are sad to see Graham Norton leave

As expected for someone who has been on the radio for the last 13 years, fans are sad to see Graham Norton leave. Virgin Radioshared the news that Norton was leaving on X and fans flooded the comments sections expressing their sadness.

One user wrote:

Absolutely gutted - Graham and Maria are gold together, going to be so missed

Another fan wrote that Norton deserves a ‘lie-in’ after so many years of hosting a weekend morning show:

Gutted. Graham starts our weekends with a laugh, but he’s worked hard and deserves a lie in himself. Best of luck and thanks for the laughs and sarcasm.

Graham Norton’s last radio show is today, February 25, from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm. As per Sky News, Norton will temporarily be replaced by fellow Irish presenter Angela Scanlon until the Virgin Radio team finds a permanent replacement.

Graham Norton joined BBC Radio 2 in 2010 and hosted a Saturday show from 10 am to 1 pm. When he moved to Virgin Radio, his Radio 2 slot was filled by Strictly host, Claudia Winkleman, but left 3 years later.