Lorraine Kelly will be the new host of Daybreak.
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The 52-year-old presenter – who is currently recovering from a horse riding accident – has signed a huge deal with ITV to front their flagship morning TV show alongside a male co-host after they agreed to several of her demands.
After Lorraine refused to front the opening hour of the show, other presenters will front the early section from 6am until 7am.
Meanwhile, she also wants her as yet unnamed co-presenter to depart the sofa at 8.30am so she can host the last hour on her own – recreating her current programme, Lorraine.
A source told the Daily Mirror: “Lorraine is a tried and tested favourite with viewers. Some will say that we’re playing it rather safe by sticking with someone who is already a big daytime star for the channel.”
“But the hope is that, in pairing her with a new male co-presenter, the whole offering will seem fresh and different and together they will draw in millions of extra viewers.
“The male presenter is crucial to this – we are keen to cast someone lesser known so he can ‘grow’ with the audience.”
Bosses are now looking for her male co-host, with BBC Breakfast sports reporter Chris Hollins, former Blue Peter host Gethin Jones, Five News presenter Matt Barbet and ITV News correspondent Keir Simmons all vying for the coveted position.
Producers are also in talks over the actual name of the show as while some want to keep the title Daybreak, many feel it should be ditched because the show proved so unpopular under Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley.
The pair joined after being poached from the BBC, but they didn’t prove a hit with viewers and they were axed from the show.
