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Terry Wogan is in talks to host a television chat show — just a week after he announced he was retiring.
The 71-year-old, who quit his Radio 2 show after 27 years, could replace Paul O'Grady if he quits his Channel 4 slot.
Friends of the Irishman, whose BBC1 show was huge in the Eighties, say he is keen to keep himself busy and that the 5pm slot would be preferable to the early mornings he has been doing for the breakfast show.
One said: “Terry may have retired from his early morning radio show but he is still full of beans and bursting to do other things.
“He loved doing his chat show and has always said he'd happily do it again. Everyone expects Paul O'Grady to leave.”
Graham Norton, 46, had been linked with the job but this now looks unlikely and Wogan already has a relationship with Channel 4. He hosts the quiz show Perfect Recall which is returning to screens next year.
His radio show, the UK's most listened-to programme, will now be hosted by his one-time breakfast show rival Chris Evans, who is married to Natasha Shishmanian.
A move to front a new chat show will remind some of his days presenting Wogan on the BBC between 1982 and 1992.
A spokeswoman for Channel 4 said: “This is pure speculation based on nothing. Negotiations with Paul O'Grady are ongoing and we are not lining up a replacement at this time.”
Reader views (5)
Pity I thought we had got rid of old lizzard lips for good!
- Mike, London England and once GREAT Britain
I remember he got paid for hosting Children in Need for years and when it came out never paid the money back! What a great guy!
- Paul B, London
Get him to commentate on sport more often, the sheer randomness of some of the waffle when he commentates on golf is some of the best surrealist comedy I've ever heard.
- Bob, Cheam
I thought he wouldn't like being out of the spotlight for very long. Almost as big an egomania as Woss
- R.F., Yorks, UK
Standard public service fare .. retire early, take the gold plated pension and get another job straight away.
- Paul, London
