Piers Morgan is close to finalising a deal to present ITV’s Good Morning Britain on a regular basis.
The former Daily Mirror editor and CNN host fronted some editions of the morning show with regular presenter Susannah Reid earlier this year.
It is not known how many episodes a week he will front or if his arrival will be as regular stand-in or if he will take over some of another presenters’ shifts.
Morgan tweeted last month that ITV had offered him a “permanent slot” on the breakfast show but that a deal had yet to be signed.
BREAKING NEWS: As I confirmed on @itvthismorning, I've been offered a permanent slot on @GMB & hope to conclude the deal very soon.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 3, 2015
He previously appeared on the ITV show while host Ben Shephard was off. Shephard has a number of other commitments including the popular quiz Tipping Point and is a presenter for Sky Sports, including co-hosting Goals On Sunday.
The ebullient Morgan first appeared on GMB – which has struggled in the ratings battle against BBC Breakfast – in April and immediately hit the headlines.
In June, regulator Ofcom criticised him for laughing as a Good Morning Britain guest repeatedly used the F-word live on air.
Ofcom decided not to take action as Morgan and co-presenter Reid had quickly aired apologies, but said it was “concerned” that he had laughed after the guest used the expletive.
Morgan and Reid interviewed Alain Robert, who is known as “the French Spiderman” for his daredevil climbing exploits, on a live video-link from Dubai.
Reid subsequently said of Morgan during an appearance on ITV’s Loose Women: “He’s like a force of nature...it’s like sitting next to a mini tornado...” adding that he bought a “whole new energy to the programme.”
Plans for Morgan to appear as a guest presenter in July were scrapped because ITV felt there was a conflict of interest with his appearance in a National Lottery commercial.
ITV already has a relationship with Morgan through his series Piers Morgan’s Life Stories. Recent guests have included Lionel Richie.
Morgan, whose CNN show was dropped last year, declined to comment.
An ITV spokesman said: “We hope to have Piers back on the GMB sofa soon but nothing is confirmed at this time.”
