Richard Desmond's Channel 5 relaunch hit as Denise Van Outen drops out at last minute, with Kate Walsh to take over
Denise Van Outen abruptly walked out of Richard Desmond's plans to relaunch Channel 5 on Friday, after she decided she did not want to work for the broadcaster following a meeting with the billionaire owner of the channel.
Van Outen was to have been one of the stars of the new-look Channel 5 schedule, which launches on Monday, paired with Matt Johnson on the teatime TV spin-off from Desmond's OK! magazine, which is replacing Live from Studio Five.
However, it is understood Van Outen changed her mind about presenting OK! TV after spending Thursday morning with Richard Desmond, on a tour of his Northern & Shell headquarters.
Exact details of what happened remain unclear, but one source said that the meeting with Desmond "did not go well" and that "there were lots of things they didn't see eye to eye on". The source added: "She had been looking forward to doing the show up until that point."
Neither side offered any further explanation in public. A Channel 5 spokesman said that there was no specific reason why Van Outen was no longer prepared take part in the show. A spokesman for Van Outen did not comment, except to say: "Denise will not be doing the show."
Van Outen did spend Thursday afternoon rehearsing, after meeting Desmond, before making the decision to quit on Friday morning; that her management notified Channel 5 straight away. Van Outen had not at that point signed a contract.
On Wednesday, Van Outen tweeted: "Had a great day at @OKTVOfficial towers with @Mattjohnsons. So excited about our new show."
However, today, Channel 5 confirmed Van Outen's sudden exit. "Due to other contractual commitments, Denise Van Outen will not be presenting OK! TV. Both parties wish each other the very best," it said in a statement.
Kate Walsh, the former Apprentice contestant and Live from Studio Five presenter, will replace Van Outen, Channel 5 confirmed.
Jeff Ford, Channel 5's director of programmes, is said to have only found out about Van Outen's departure this morning. He spent most of the morning at a press briefing promoting Monday's relaunch.
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/feb/11/denise-van-outen-ok-tv
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