Editing Jonathan Ross (section)

===1987–95: Channel X===
Whilst on ''Solid Soul'', he met fellow researcher Alan Marke, and the two devised what would prove to be a breakthrough hit for Ross in 1987, {{anchor|The Last Resort}}<!-- [[The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross]]] redirects here-->''The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jan/07/jonathan-ross-career-timeline|title=Jonathan Ross's career: timeline|last=Bunz|first=Mercedes|date=2010-01-07|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-02-13|archive-date=14 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073404/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jan/07/jonathan-ross-career-timeline|url-status=live}}</ref>

The two men based their concept on the successful American show ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'', and formed a new production company called Channel X, to produce a pilot. Ross had not planned to be the show's host, but he presented the show from its debut in January 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/presenters/jonathan-ross/|title=About Jonathan Ross|work=Radio 2|publisher=BBC|access-date=8 October 2009|archive-date=7 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707004409/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/presenters/jonathan-ross/|url-status=live}}</ref>

While the series was initially a co-production with [[Colin Callender]], ownership transferred to Marke and Ross, meaning that the latter retained a great deal of control as well as being presenter.<ref name="times">'Baggy fashion is blamed for trouble at t'mill', Roland Rudd, ''The Times'', 2 June 1988.</ref> The show was successful for both Ross and for Channel 4, making him one of the major personalities on the channel. A year later, his documentary series ''The Incredibly Strange Film Show'' introduced many to the works of [[cult film]]makers like [[Sam Raimi]] and [[Jackie Chan]]. Ross and Raimi appeared together in a British television advertisement for Raimi's 1987 film ''[[Evil Dead II]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2011/07/10/babyface-sam-raimi-scares-jonathan-ross-in-vintage-evil-dead-ii-uk-ad|title=Babyface Sam Raimi Scares Jonathan Ross In Vintage Evil Dead II UK Ad|last=Faraci|first=Devin|date=10 July 2011|website=[[Birth. Movies. Death.]]|access-date=5 May 2022|archive-date=5 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505190748/https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2011/07/10/babyface-sam-raimi-scares-jonathan-ross-in-vintage-evil-dead-ii-uk-ad|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1990 and 1991, his television documentary series ''[[Jonathan Ross Presents for One Week Only]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/presenters/jonathan-ross/|title=BBC – Radio 2 – Presenters – Jonathan Ross|publisher=BBC|access-date=9 January 2018|archive-date=3 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003064948/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/presenters/jonathan-ross/|url-status=live}}</ref> profiled and interviewed directors including [[Alejandro Jodorowsky]], [[David Lynch]], [[Aki Kaurismäki]] and in 2014, the Spanish filmmaker [[Pedro Almodóvar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinearchive.org/post/32397649993/a-comprehensive-list-of-jonathan-ross-presents-for|title=CINEPHILIA and FILMMAKING • A comprehensive list of Jonathan Ross Presents for...|website=Cinearchive.org|access-date=9 January 2018}}</ref>

In 1989, he co-presented the biennial BBC charity telethon ''[[Comic Relief]]'', the same year he launched ''One Hour with Jonathan Ross'' a short lived chat show on Channel 4. Its game show segment, "[[Knock down ginger]]", introduced comedians such as [[Vic Reeves]], [[Bob Mortimer]], [[Paul Whitehouse]] and [[Charlie Higson]] to television. In December 1989, Ross appeared on ''[[Cilla Black|Cilla's]] Goodbye to the 80s'' and presented all four members of [[Queen (band)|Queen]] with the "Top Band of the Eighties" prize in a broadcast for [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] which would turn out to be [[Freddie Mercury]]'s penultimate public appearance before his death from AIDS in 1991.

Ross presented the annual ''[[British Comedy Awards]]'' each year from 1991 to 2014 with the exception of 2008 following his suspension from the BBC.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article5061123.ece|title= Jonathan Ross may never return to BBC says Sir Terry Wogan|work= [[The Times]]|date= 1 November 2008|access-date= 2 November 2008|location= London|first= Robin|last= Henry|archive-date= 15 June 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110615182351/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article5061123.ece|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/history.aspx|title=The British Comedy Awards – The British Comedy Awards – History|website=Britishcomedyawards.com|access-date=2018-10-28|archive-date=28 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028225736/http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/history.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1992 he presented an interview with [[Madonna]] about her ''[[Erotica (Madonna album)|Erotica]]'' album and ''[[Sex (book)|Sex Book]]'' promotion.

Ross has appeared in numerous television entertainment programmes on several channels throughout the 1990s and 2000s. He was a regular panellist on the sports quiz ''[[They Think It's All Over (TV series)|They Think It's All Over]]'', and hosted the [[panel game]] ''It's Only TV...But I Like It''. Other projects include the BBC joke-quiz ''Gagtag'', the Channel 4 variety show ''[[Saturday Zoo]]'', new-acts showcase ''[[The Big Big Talent Show]]'', and the ITV programme ''Fantastic Facts''.

In 1995, he left Channel X, despite its profitable nature. He was quoted in a 1998 article as stating:
{{blockquote|It was to do with a deliberate change in my life, moving away from TV as the core of my existence to focus on my family more. So I had to give up everything to do with Channel X, and I literally got only £1 for my share, which was unbelievable.<ref name="guardian">'Hot enough for another bite at the telly', ''[[The Guardian]]'', 13&nbsp;July 1998.</ref>}}