Jonathan Ross to quit BBC

AP

Jonathan Ross delivers cups of tea to the waiting media outside his home in north London, after he announced that he is to quit the BBC.

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Jonathan Ross, one of the BBC's highest paid stars, has announced that he is to leave the UK broadcaster.

Ross, whose salary was around £6 million a year according to media reports, said he had decided not to renegotiate his contract which is due to end in July.

It comes just over a year after he was suspended by BBC bosses for "grossly offensive" prank calls he made with comedian Russell Brand to "Fawlty Towers" actor Andrew Sachs.

"Although I have had a wonderful time working for the BBC, and am very proud of the shows I have made while there, over the last two weeks I have decided not to re-negotiate when my current contract comes to an end," he said in a statement reported by media.

"I would like to make it perfectly clear that no negotiations ever took place and that my decision is not financially motivated."

Ross currently hosts a Friday night show on BBC1, a film review programme, and also presents a radio show on Saturday mornings.

He said he would continue working on these projects until his contract ended in the summer, and would also continue to host the Bafta Film Awards, Comic Relief and other BBC specials.

"Thanks for all the kind words about my decision. I feel sad that I can't keep making the shows so many of you love," he wrote on his Twitter site.

Several well-paid BBC presenters have agreed to take pay cuts as the corporation comes under pressure to rein in spending amid the economic downturn.

Ross said he had signed his current contract with the BBC after turned down more lucrative offers from other channels.

"As I have said before -- would happily have stayed there for any fee they cared to offer, but there were other considerations," Ross said in his statement.

"Working at the BBC has been a tremendous privilege, and I would like to thank everyone who has watched and listened so loyally over the last 13 years."

Ross was suspended without pay for 12 weeks and Brand sacked after widespread outrage following the prank calls he made to Sachs on the radio in October 2008.

More than 40,000 people complained about the show in which Ross joked about Brand sleeping with the actor's burlesque dancer granddaughter Georgina Baillie.

Ross apologised and returned to TV screens in January last year, but commentators said he might have to tone down his flamboyant and sometimes controversial style on the instruction of BBC chiefs.

"Jonathan Ross has told us that he's decided not to pursue the renewal of his contract with the BBC," said Jana Bennett, Director of BBC Vision.

"Jonathan is an extremely talented broadcaster and his programmes for BBC TV 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."

- Reuters