Norton to front 'Strictly Come Dancing' spinoff

Graham Norton's first mainstream project for the BBC has been confirmed as a spinoff of the popular ballroom reality series Strictly Come Dancing.

The Irish comedian - who joined the Beeb from C4 earlier this year in a deal worth a rumoured £5 million - will host Strictly Dance Fever, billed as "the biggest dance-off in history."

In the show, planned for early next year, a number of couples will be selected from an initial open call audition process to move on to the live stage of the show. Viewers will then select ten couples to progress to the finals, with one pair being booted each week until just one remains to scoop a £50,000 prize and the Strictly Dance Fever trophy.

"Everyone at some point thinks they can dance. [In my case] with a few drinks, watch out Justin Timberlake," Norton said in an interview with Jonathan Ross, airing tonight. "The whole point is that we're doing new shows for a new audience. I just want to do things that I'd watch."

The series will air over several months, most likely on Saturday nights.