The Guardian are already asking "who should takeover Jonathan Ross' shows?", now he's decided to leave the BBC in July after 13 years with the corporation. A few thoughts from me:
I can't quibble with Graham Norton for his Friday night chatshow (his own chat show's promotion to BBC1 to bookend Ross' on Mondays felt like he was being groomed to replace Ross anyway.) I would be very surprised if he didn't get the gig, considering his new £4m BBC deal and experience with the format. In fact, it's not even worth debating other candidates, is it. Friday Night With Graham Norton, it is.
Likewise, I can't grumble about Mark Kermode taking on the Film programme. He was a contender back when Barry Norman left in the late-'90s, too. Mind you, given how well Kermode's radio show with Simon Mayo has gone (recently promoted to Radio 2 "drive-time", too), would he enjoy the constraint and formality of TV? He always looks slightly hamstrung on The Culture Show in his studio-based film review section, and I doubt any of his patented radio "rants" will crossover to Film -- unless the BBC are willing to revamp the show completely. Actually, I might be a good opportunity to do that now. I've always felt that the BBC are missing a trick with Film. It could be so much more than it is, and deserves a pre-11pm timeslot.
Replacing Ross on his Saturday morning radio show is trickier to predict. I'd love to see Adam & Joe make the leap from their popular BBC6Music show, which is absolutely wonderful. They deserve the greater exposure. The Guardian seem to have plumped for Liza Tarbuck, whom I simply can't stand. How about Charlie Brooker? Would he be able to evolve into that kind of role? He proved unnervingly good as gameshow host in You Have Been Watching last year, so maybe there's even more to him than effusive pop-culture rants and misanthropy? Can he interview and form a real bond with listeners? Hmm.
