Channel swap for presenter

ITN newsreader Katie Derham is moving over to the BBC...

13:48 22 April 2010

After 12 years presenting on ITV, Katie Derham is set to swap to rival BBC.

Moving from her regular lunchtime news slot she has anchored since 2004, Derham is set to take on projects outside of the newsroom.

The 39-year-old presenter is to host the BBC's Proms coverage in a £250,000 deal which also sees her front a set of other programmes for the corporation.

A source from the news show told the Daily Mail: "There is no row. Katie just felt that it was time to look at different things. "

The married mother of two joined ITV in 1998 as media and arts editor, before becoming newsreader for the channel and, at 27, the youngest national anchor in the country.

As well as her new role as correspondent at London's Royal Albert Hall for the channel, which reignites her passion for classical music, Derham is also set to present shows on BBC 2, Radio 3 and Radio 4.

A BBC insider told the Daily Mail that it was the lure of being able to indulge her passion for classical music that had attracted her back to the BBC where she will work across television and radio.

Economics graduate Derham began her broadcasting career at the BBC as researcher for Radio 4's 'Moneybox' programme before presenting 'Moneycheck' on Five Live.

As consumer affairs correspondent she transferred to TV in 1996, but was then poached by ITV where she stayed for 12 years.

An ITV spokesman confirmed the news, saying: "We can confirm that Katie Derham will be leaving ITN to join the BBC in a non-news role.

'We wish her all the best and will announce in due course our presenting plans for ITV Network News and London Tonight, where we already have a very strong roster of experienced female presenters."

Of the new challenges ahead of her, Derham said:  "I'm thrilled to be joining the BBC Proms team at the start of such a fantastic season.

"It's going to be tremendous fun bringing viewers in-depth coverage from the concerts and digging deeper into the history of some of the wonderful music."

This year's proms will feature more than 90 concerts, starting  Friday 16th July until Saturday 11th September, with two concerts dedicated to Broadway legends Rogers & Hammerstein and Stephen Sondheim.

Proms director Roger Wright said:  "What we want Katie to do is present in the authoritative, knowledgeable and personable way she has."

Derham is married to restaurateur John Vincent, with whom she has two daughters – Natasha May and Eleanor Margaret.

Earlier in the week, it was revealed that 'The One Show' host Adrian Chiles was making a move from the BBC to ITV.