ITV has mutually agreed with Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley that they will step down from their regular presenting roles on Daybreak later this year to focus on their peak time commitments with ITV1.
Adrian Chiles will prioritise his role as the anchor of ITV’s extensive live football coverage, which includes the FA Cup, England’s internationals as well as the UEFA Champions League. It can also be confirmed that Adrian’s successful topical discussion show, That Sunday Night Show, will return to ITV1 for a third series in 2012.
Christine Bleakley will focus on a range of peak time shows for ITV1, including a new role as the co-presenter of Dancing on Ice alongside Phillip Schofield. This December Christine will also host Westlife: For The Last Time and co-present ITV’s major new charity and entertainment initiative for Christmas, Text Santa. ITV1 is also developing a new peak time factual entertainment challenge show with Christine as well as a new peak time home renovation programme.
Peter Fincham, ITV Director of Television, said: “Adrian and Christine are both superb presenters. They have worked tirelessly to help establish Daybreak on ITV1 and they leave the show at a point when ratings have recently seen their biggest year on year increase.
“Adrian has had a hugely positive reception as the host of ITV’s live football coverage since he joined us for the 2010 World Cup and I’m pleased that he will be at the helm of the UK’s biggest free-to-air football offering, and will continue to present his successful That Sunday Night Show.
“I’m delighted that Christine will join Phillip Schofield as the host of one of our biggest entertainment hits, Dancing on Ice, as well as our Christmas event, Text Santa – and as we look ahead to next year we will be working with her on two exciting new peak time projects.”
The new presenters of Daybreak, which over the last three weeks has seen average audiences of more than 800,000 viewers and a peak of 1.4million, will be announced in due course.
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