Leno to leave Tonight in May 2009

Comedian Jay Leno will host his last Tonight Show next May, TV network NBC has said.

The 58-year-old will last make his last appearance on 29 May, with replacement Conan O'Brien starting the following Monday, 1 June.

NBC executives said they were looking for ways to keep him at the network in a role other than as a late-night host.

Leno has been fronting the US talk-show since taking over from veteran Johnny Carson in 1992.

"We're still talking to Jay about staying within NBC Universal," said Marc Graboff, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment.

"We've made our decision, we're happy with it and were very confident The Tonight Show will continue to be dominant."

'Definitely done'

Leno's future has been the subject of speculation since NBC announced that he would step down at some point in 2009 four years ago.

In a recent interview with USA Today, Leno indicated he was ready to leave the network saying: "I am definitely done next year - with NBC."

Other broadcasters are known to be interested in hiring the comedian, who has long reigned supreme in US television's late-night ratings wars.

"We believe there is still room for him to be on the air," Graboff said, but he acknowledged that if Leno chose to leave there was little NBC could do about it.

Leno's replacement O'Brien, 45, currently hosts the Late Night show that immediately follows The Tonight Show.

Saturday Night Live veteran Jimmy Fallon has been named as O'Brien's successor.

BY-BBC NEWS

Mercury shortlist to be announced

The 12 nominees for this year's Mercury Prize will be announced later.

All albums made by UK and Irish acts are eligible for the award, won last year by the Klaxons with their release Myths of the Near Future.

Big-selling acts who are in contention for the 2008 shortlist include Radiohead, Coldplay and Duffy.

The prize and the accompanying £20,000 cheque have been presented annually since 1992, when they were given to Primal Scream for Screamadelica.

Radiohead gained considerable attention last year by announcing their album, In Rainbows, would be available initially online, with fans paying what they wanted to download the MP3 files.

Coldplay topped the UK and US charts with their latest release, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.

Robert Plant (right) is a contender for his album with Alison Krauss (left)

And Welsh soul star Duffy became the first artist to sell a million copies of an album in 2008, with her debut Rockferry.

If the judges were to favour pop acts on this year's shortlist, Leona Lewis - who spent seven weeks at number one - James Blunt or Adele could be included.

Singer-songwriter Kate Nash may also feature, along with ex-Led Zeppelin star Robert Plant, whose album with country musician Alison Krauss - Raising Sand - was also released in the past 12 months.

The nominations are announced on Tuesday, with the winner confirmed at a ceremony in London on 9 September.

BY-BBC NEWS

Talking Shop: Chaka Khan

Global soul icon Chaka Khan is back in the UK with her first brand new material in a decade.

Her album, Funk This, marks a return to her musical roots with Rufus, the 70s band she fronted which launched her career.

The 2007 album is receiving a renewed promotional push after winning a Grammy for Best R&B album earlier this year.

Here, the diva discusses her heroes, her musical legacy, and how she kicked her drug habit.

BY-BBC NEWS