Events | 2010.04.19
Adrian Chiles quits BBC for ITV
The One Show and Match of the Day 2 presenter to host GMTV and ITV\'s World Cup football coverage
The One Show and Match of the Day 2 presenter Adrian Chiles has quit the BBC to join ITV in a four-year deal.
Chiles will take up roles with GMTV and ITV\'s World Cup football coverage.
Chiles is understood to have been upset after he was recently replaced as the Friday night host of The One Show by DJ Chris Evans .
Chiles admitted that his move came following an "awkward period" at the BBC.
He said: "The chance to front ITV\'s football coverage and GMTV would have proved an irresistible opportunity at the best of times.
"But, coming as it did at an awkward period for me at the BBC, it made the decision to leave not quite as hard as it might have been.
"I would have been happy to stay at the BBC doing the same shows on the same terms, especially The One Show, of which I am so proud having worked on it since the first pilots four years ago."
"It\'s no secret how disappointed I was by the controller\'s decision to change an apparently successful and well-loved show at this stage, but fully respect her right to do so and sincerely wish her and the brilliant One Show team well with it."
However, it is understood that the decision to hire Evans for Friday night shows was sanctioned not just by BBC1 controller Jay Hunt, but also a number of other senior BBC executives including the director of vision, Jana Bennett.
Chiles will lead ITV\'s World Cup coverage in June, including England\'s two peak-time opening games, and from next season he will be in the chair for the Champions League, England\'s home internationals and away friendlies as well as the FA Cup.
He will also be on the GMTV sofa five days a week and front a new factual series for ITV in 2011.
It is understood that Chris Hollins – who stood in for Chiles last week – is the favourite to replace him on The One Show.
Chiles was away in Wales last week when it emerged that Chris Evans had signed to present Friday night editions of The One Show.
One insider said: "It seems that Adrian is leaving the BBC in a fit of pique."
Some industry experts have been left puzzled by Chiles\'s decision to turn down the BBC\'s deal.
The corporation was developing a chat show for him and a panel game and he had been offered a package including four nights on The One Show, The Apprentice: You\'ve Been Fired, Match of the Day 2 and other sporting events.
However it is understood that Chiles has been in talks with ITV intermittently for a couple of years and ITV bosses moved quickly over the past few days to swoop him up.
Chiles also worked with ITV director of television, channels and online, Peter Fincham, when Fincham launched The One Show when he was BBC1 controller.
Fincham said: "Adrian is a brilliant presenter, journalist and a football fanatic – I\'m very much looking forward to working with him again when he joins ITV.
"He has the rare talent of being able to make television presenting look effortless. He will be at home at ITV whether it is on our flagship breakfast programme or in the football studio."
ITV\'s package, in addition to fronting GMTV, includes West Bromwich fan Chiles includes fronting more live football – something which BBC sport bosses were less inclined for him to do.
Another former BBC star, Steve Rider, has been ITV\'s main football anchor.
Chiles\' move to GMTV means that Eamonn Holmes – who the Daily Mail revealed last week ITV has been trialling with Kate Thornton on This Morning to see if the pair could provide the perfect double act for GMTV\'s forthcoming revamp – will not be transferring back to his old stamping ground.
Holmes left GMTV in 2005 after 12 years on the sofa.
ITV is overhauling the breakfast show after taking total ownership of the franchise last year under the guidance of the ITV director of daytime and factual, Alison Sharman, who oversaw the resurgence of BBC daytime during her time at the corporation.
Chiles\'s move also leaves open a prime spot fronting The Apprentice: You\'ve Been Fired, which the BBC is likely to have candidates queueing up to fill.
A BBC spokesman said: "We would like to thank Adrian for his contributions to his programmes and we wish him well for the future."
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