FILM critic Barry Norman is leaving the BBC after 26 years to join Sky Movies.
With his conversational style and near catch-phrase ''And why not?'' veteran broadcaster Barry Norman, 64, has been Britain's best-loved and most recognised film critic for decades.
The latest series of his review programme, Film '98, ends later this month, and Mr Norman will start at Sky when his BBC contract runs out in September.
General manager of broadcasting Elisabeth Murdoch said: ''Barry is the face and the voice of film in Britain. He is held in the highest esteem both within the industry and by film fans everywhere.
''His joining Sky underlines our commitment to providing our viewers with the very best in movie programming.''
Mr Norman said: ''I will look back on my time at the BBC with huge affection, but the opportunities offered by Sky proved too attractive to turn down.
''I'm as enthusiastic as they are about the idea of channels dedicated to the movies and everything that's going on in the movie industry.''
It is believed that Mr Norman and the BBC had mutually agreed Film '99 would be the last in the series, and that yesterday's announcement means he is leaving a year early.
BBC1 controller Peter Salmon said: ''Barry has made an enormous contribution to BBC1 and to the film industry for over 26 years.
''To millions of viewers he has personified film for nearly three decades and we are naturally sorry to see him go.''
Mr Norman joined the BBC in 1972 and has delivered his views on cinema releases through 25 series of Film.
The BBC said it was seeking a fresh, young movie critic to front their programmes.
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