Television presenter Jonathan Ross is quitting the BBC, he said today.
The controversial broadcaster is leaving after 13 years at the corporation.
Ross has been one of the biggest faces at the BBC, with his Friday night chat show, his Radio 2 show and his film review programme. But his salary, a reported £18 million over three years, and the scandal over actor Andrew Sachs have recently caused controversy.
Ross (49) said in a statement that he had decided not to renegotiate his contract when it ends at the end of July.
“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.
“I would like to make it perfectly clear that no negotiations ever took place and that my decision is not financially motivated”.
The news follows reports that Ross’s future at the BBC was looking increasingly uncertain.
Graham Norton, who is seen as a chat-show rival, was a rumoured replacement for his Friday night chat show, according to reports, while Mark Kermode could have been lined up to take the star's review slot, Film 2010.
If that happened, Ross would have been left with his Saturday morning Radio 2 show and a huge pay cut.
Ross had offered to take a 50 per cent pay cut when his contract expired, which would have slashed his annual salary by £3 million.
But his spokesman said he was not in the middle of pay negotiations and said he would continue at the BBC until the summer.
Yesterday, Ross wrote on his Twitter page that he was meeting someone from Los Angeles. The Tweet followed speculation that the star would go to work in the US.
“It’s annoying but someone has flown in from LA so it would be rude not to show up!” he wrote.
Today he Tweeted: “Good morning. My day is turning out to be far more interesting then I had anticipated! See you later - have a good one.”