It’s a sad day for lovers of BBC newsroom ‘totty’ as Natasha Kaplinsky has announced that she is leaving, with the Six O’Clock news host off to rivals Five for the money, sorry challenge. Five are planning a major overhaul of their news programming and Natasha couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be part of it: "After five incredibly rewarding years at the BBC, I found the chance to work with the team at Five too exciting to pass up" explains Kaplinsky.

The 35-year-old newsreader has been with the Corporation since 2002, when she left Sky News. Her new job spec. at Five will see her take over the 5.30pm and 7pm news slots, once the territory of new BBC acquisition Kirsty Young. Five are thrilled to have gotten their mitts on Natasha with their senior programme controller, Chris Shaw, practically foaming at the mouth at news of her imminent arrival: “Natasha has proved she has real authority and with her BBC1 shows, she also demonstrated her warmth and star quality." Star quality? We are talking about news reporting here, aren’t we? Sounded like he was judging her on The X-Factor.

[via The Mirror]