Sharon Stone: Bazza interviewee

The Corporation has said it is seeking someone who could appeal to a younger audience, although a spokesperson insisted nobody has yet been approached.

But Bazza, as he is affectionately known to his fans, is a seriously hard act to follow.

The inimitable - yet much imitated - presenter of Film '98 is famous for his desert-dry humour and laid-back reviews, which, according to impersonators' legend, always end with "And why not?"

Norman has watched more than 10,000 films in his 64 years and secured interviews with a galaxy of screen stars - Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, to name but a few.

Various names of possible successors are echoing in media circles, three of them women:

• Dawn French has been tipped for Film 99 by several newspapers. Best known for her comedy sketches with Jennifer Saunders, and star of sitcom The Vicar of Dibley, she has said one of her ambitions is to write a movie. But it's as yet unclear how she would qualify to fill Bazza's shoes.
• Kirsty Young, Channel 5's news presenter, whose style has won many plaudits since the channel started, has also been named. She worked with Barry Norman on Film 95.
• Katie Derham, arts correspondent for ITN, has also been named. She is becoming a regular on people's televisions, and has in the past reported for Film 96 and Film 98.
• 
  

  Johnny Vaughan got his showbiz break with Moviewatch

  Johnny Vaughan is the witty host of Channel 4's The Big Breakfast and has presented Moviewatch for the channel since its beginning four series ago.

• Mark Kermode BBC Radio 1 film critic is, perhaps, of all Norman's named possible successors the most opinionated. Radio 1 listeners are now used to his uncompromising views and motormouth style, and he could well be a front-runner.

  
  

  Kermode: Radio One film critic

  He has also contributed to Radio Four's high-brow arts programme Kaleidoscope, and won a Sony Award for his Radio 2 series The Directors.

• Mark Cousins who presents BBC TWO's offbeat film show Moviedrome.
• Mark Lamarr, stand-up comedian, also a panellist on BBC TWO's cult quiz Shooting Stars, has presented the channel's arts festival programme Edinburgh Nights, and pop quiz Never Mind the Buzzcocks. He has also presented a series of Radio 2 documentaries about the blues.

The final decision on who will succeed Norman will be made by the controller of BBC ONE, Peter Salmon.