Virgin Radio’s latest star signing, Graham Norton, will take to the air for his first show at 9.30am on Saturday, 9th January. And fans of his radio shows will be delighted to know that his favourite radio partner in crime, Maria McErlane, will be joining him.

Last month, Graham announced he was stepping down after a decade of his hugely successful BBC Radio 2 Saturday show to join Virgin Radio for a new flagship Weekend show across Saturday and Sunday.

Maria currently co-presents the ‘Grill Graham’ feature and together the pair have welcomed high-profile star guests including Kylie Minogue, JK Rowling, David Tennant and Tina Turner on the show since she joined the show in 2011.

Maria said: “Delighted to be joining Graham Norton on his new weekend shows and looking forward to tackling all the problems that Virgin Radio listeners decide to throw at us!”

Graham said: “Maria is amazing and the show just wouldn’t be complete without her. We’ll be there with all the best celebrity chat and all our usual antics broadcasting from our brilliant new home at Virgin Radio.”

Virgin Radio UK Content Director Mike Cass added: “Maria is an incredibly talented presenter and I’m delighted to be welcoming her to the Virgin Radio family in the new year. Graham and Maria have a unique on-air chemistry which will deliver double the fun at weekends from January 9th.”

The pair are known for their great chemistry, with Maria first co-presenting the ITV quiz show Carnal Knowledge with Graham in the late 90s before becoming a regular contributor on Graham Norton's Radio 2 show. Maria even jokingly refers to herself as Graham's wife!

Graham’s shows will be preceded in the Virgin Radio schedules by Amy Voce on Weekend Breakfast from 6am, and followed by Steve Denyer with Virgin Radio on Demand until 4pm.