Vernon Kay signs two-year ITV deal

Presenter Vernon Kay has signed a two-year deal with ITV.

One of Kay's first vehicles under the deal - which will allow him to keep his BBC Radio 1 show - will be new eight-part series Beat the Star, which will see a member of the public take on a celebrity in seven consecutive games, taking home £50,000 if they win.

The show, which will be co-produced by independent producers Diverse and Antony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly's company Gallowgate, is currently in production and will air later in 2008.

ITV said a number of other projects had also been lined up.

Kay has become one of ITV's most recognisable entertainment faces, having presented All Star Family Fortunes and Gameshow Marathon.

He also fronted singing reality show Just the Two of Us for BBC1 alongside his wife Tess Daly.

ITV's director of television, Simon Shaps, said: "Vernon Kay is one of the most in-demand and popular entertainment presenters on British television and I'm thrilled that we've been able to secure an exclusive partnership with him on ITV."