Norton 'would take BBC pay cut'

Graham Norton has admitted that he would happily take a pay cut to stay at the BBC.

The Eurovision commentator's £5 million three-year deal with the broadcaster ends later this year, but he has told the Sunday Mirror that he is willing to a accept a lower salary as a result of the current financial climate.

"I would take a pay cut to stay at the BBC, absolutely," said Norton. "We are all in the same boat, no one is immune from the credit crunch. I am very, very fortunate in that I am well paid to do jobs that I love. So would I do those jobs for less money? Of course I would, absolutely."

The star, who also presents BBC Two's The Graham Norton Show, added that it is equally his "agent's job to get me the best deal possible", and "if she dropped the ball I would be annoyed with her".

"You have to make hay while the sun shines and I've been very lucky to have been knocking around for a while. But it doesn't last for ever, so you have to feather the nest while you can," he explained.