Natasha Kaplinsky to join ITV News
Former BBC and Channel 5 newsreader to front London Tonight and some national bulletins
She made headlines in 2007 when it was announced she was leaving the BBC for Channel 5 in a reported £1 million a year deal, but now Natasha Kaplinsky is joining ITV's news team.
The newsreader will cover the maternity leave of Nina Hossain, beginning in mid-September, anchoring daily regional news programme London Tonight and presenting some national news.
Kaplinsky became the highest-paid newsreader in the country when she joined Channel 5 in 2008. She had become well known for presenting BBC Breakfast and the BBC Six o’Clock News.
During her three years at Channel 5, where she fronted the early evening bulletin Five News with Natasha Kaplinsky, she herself took maternity leave twice.
The newsreader parted ways with the channel in December and has since been presenting ITV1 talent show Born to Shine.
In an interview with the Daily Mail in March, Kaplinsky said, “I’ve been at home since Christmas when Five didn’t renew my contract and I am getting bored.” The newspaper reported her new contract with ITV is believed to be around £200,000.
On her new position, announced yesterday, Kaplinsky said, "I am very much enjoying being part of ITV's line-up, and thrilled to be returning to my first love, news. This is an exciting chance to work with the talented team in the ITV newsroom."
