The BBC has confirmed the signing of former England footballer and ITV presenter Ian Wright to an two-year exclusive deal believed to be worth £1m.
As part of the deal, the star will take over from Ant and Dec as the main host of BBC1 Saturday evening entertainment show, Friends Like These.
The SM:TV Live pair are quitting their BBC1 show to develop an ITV peaktime entertainment format.
Mr Wright, who had his own chat show on ITV, has signed up to present a football programme on Radio 5 Live with former Crystal Palace team-mate Mark Bright.
He told BBC1 Breakfast News today that he chose television over football management because he felt he could be more successful in a TV career.
"I am never going to be England manager, so why should I stay in something where I cannot reach the top," said Mr Wright.
"Ian has great talent and charisma and he is one of life's enthusiasts," said BBC1 controller Lorraine Heggessey.
"He sums up what I am trying to do with BBC1 and the new spirit of the channel," she added.
The signing of Mr Wright is part of a concerted drive by the BBC to rebuild its on-screen talent line-up following a series of high-profile defections.
On Friday, the corporation announced it had signed Olympic boxing gold medallist Audley Harrison to an exclusive deal.
Jonathan Ross has also been signed to an exclusive contract.
Louis Theroux, presenter of BBC2's Weird Weekend series, has also signed a two-year deal with the corporation.
He will be developing a new series as well as having the opportunity to do more one-off programmes such as the highly acclaimed When Louis Met Jimmy.
"Louis and BBC2 have been a fantastic combination resulting in some of the most original television in recent years," said BBC2 controller Jane Root.
"The next two years will see Louis spreading his wings on BBC2 and bringing his inimitable style to some new and exciting formats," she added.
Theroux said: "I am very pleased. Whatever subject I've decided to cover, be it porn films or gangsta rap, the BBC has always given me total creative freedom."
