Terry Wogan: Graham Norton pays tribute - 'He made it seem possible'

'He made it seem effortless '

'RIP Sir Terry Wogan', Graham Norton has written on social media (Getty Images)

Graham Norton has paid tribute to veteran broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan, who has died aged 77 shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.

Sir Terry’s broadcasting career spanned more than 50 years, and included 37 years presenting the Eurovision Song Contest.

Fellow Irishman Norton took over Eurovision in 2008.

“He made it seem effortless and for a young boy in Ireland he made it seem possible”, Norton wrote on social media.

“RIP Sir Terry Wogan. I'll raise a glass during song 9”.

Norton emulated Sir Terry’s much-loved sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek tone while presenting the sometimes bizarre song contest.

"Who knows what hellish future lies ahead? Actually I do, I've seen the rehearsals", Sir Terry quipped during his penultimate Eurovision, in 2007.

"I love the Eurovision Song Contest and it will continue long after I'm gone", the presenter said before he stepped down the following year.

"Just please don't ask me to take it seriously."

News of the broadcaster’s death was announced on-air on BBC Radio 2, the station where he had worked on-and-off since 1972.

His family said in a statement that Sir Terry had died on Sunday "after a short but brave battle with cancer".