Jonathan Ross, the BBC's best paid entertainment presenter, has announced he is leaving the BBC after 13 years working for the corporation.

Ross, 49, said in a statement he had decided not to renegotiate his contract when it ends in July. The star emphasised he was behind the choice to leave the broadcaster.

He said: "Although I have had a wonderful time working for the BBC, and am very proud of the shows I have made, over the last two weeks I have decided not to re-negotiate when my current contract comes to an end. I have worked with some of the nicest and most talented people in the industry and had the opportunity to interview some of the biggest stars in the world, and am grateful to the BBC for such a marvellous experience. I would like to make it perfectly clear no negotiations ever took place and my decision is not financially motivated."

Ross has recently been the cause of some controversy at the BBC, which may explain his desire to now leave the broadcaster. In 2008, he was suspended for making a series of phone calls to actor Andrew Sachs on Russell Brand's Radio 2 show, and in recent years his current contract, reportedly worth an unconfirmed £18m, has come under fire from some viewers as not offering value for money, particularly since his suspension in 2008.

Jana Bennett, Director of BBC Vision, has issued the following statement: "Jonathan Ross has told us that he's decided not to pursue the renewal of his contract with the BBC. Jonathan is an extremely talented broadcaster and his programmes for BBC TV and Radio have been a great success. However, it's been a difficult year for him and I understand why he feels it's the right thing to do. I'm pleased that Jonathan will continue to apply his considerable abilities to the remaining six months of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, Film 2010 and his Radio 2 show, and I'm delighted that he will continue to present the BAFTA awards and Comic Relief for BBC Television."

Ross' departure in July will leave a big gap in the BBC's Friday night schedule. His entertainment chat show, Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, which has run since 2001 and clocked up over 250 episodes to date, fills the 10:35pm Friday night spot for most of the year and attracts many big-name Hollywood stars to appear on the channel. Industry experts are now predicting Graham Norton's chat show - which recently transferred from BBC Two to BBC One and has just seen Norton sign a new £2million-a-year deal to work for the BBC - will take over the prime-time slot. First though, there is one final series of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross to be broadcast - it starts on the 15th January and will run until Ross' contract expires in the summer.

The BBC News website has more information and a video statement from Ross. BBC News