CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN - CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN NAMED AS NEW HELL'S KITCHEN HOST

CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN NAMED AS NEW HELL'S KITCHEN HOST

Claudia Winkleman has won her first primetime hosting position and will present the next series of Hell's Kitchen, it has been announced.

The 37-year-old will take over from Angus Deayton when the fourth series of the ITV1 show begins later this spring, the channel has confirmed.

Deayton is reported to have clashed with celebrity chef Marco Pierre White during the filming of the third series, screened in autumn 2007.

After her appointment, Winkleman commented: "I've always been a huge fan of Hell's Kitchen so I’m thrilled to be joining the team."

The presenter, who recently hosted Let's Dance for Comic Relief on BBC1, said she was hoping for some culinary advice from White "as I get confused when making toast".

Peter Fincham, ITV's director of television, channels and online, said the channel were sure Winkleman would be able to "withstand the heat" of keeping control of White and his celebrity contestants.

Former boxer Barry McGuigan won the last series of the show, which made the headlines when comedian Jim Davidson was asked to leave after an "unacceptable" homophobic remark.