Home News TV Listings Movies Music Video Photos Radio Extra Book Club RTÉ Guide

Media News

Cowell offers Bleakley Willoughby's job?

Christine Bleakley has reportedly been offered £200,000 a year by Simon Cowell to become the new host of 'The Xtra Factor'.
1 of 1 Bleakley offered £200k a year to host The Xtra Factor.
Bleakley offered £200k a year to host The Xtra Factor.

According to Heat, the presenter could reject an alleged £2m offer from the BBC to host a number of ITV shows, including 'GMTV' and 'The X Factor' spinoff.

'Britain's Got Talent' judge Amanda Holden told the magazine of Bleakley: "She's fantastic. I don't blame ITV for trying to get hold of her because she's brilliant. We first met at a random dinner.

"Simon was invited to 10 Downing Street - it was an informal meeting with Gordon Brown - and Christine came. I just hogged her all night. I think the BBC should try to keep hold of her, but The Xtra Factor is an amazing gig."

A TV source added: "Christine has become close to Simon over the past year. She knew getting in with him would be the key to career success.

"She made an effort to say nice things about him in the press, then she became matey with Amanda Holden - which is a stepping stone to Cowell himself."

They added: "Now he's offered to double her £100,000-a-year contract to take over from Holly Willoughby on 'The Xtra Factor' Simon has marked her out for the top and she has told friends, 'I can be bigger than Cheryl [Cole]'."

add your own comment
User contributions and/or comments do not, unless specifically stated, represent the views of RTÉ.ie or RTÉ.
Click here for Terms of use

Must Watch TV

  • - House

    10.00pm Sky 1

    Can you believe it? It's the last ever episode of House. Eight seasons of medical conundrums, acerbic wit, questionable managerial style, drug addictions, psychiatric help, ill-fated romances, plus a prison sentence to boot, resulted in Dr Gregory House becoming one of TV's most memorable characters. The role nabbed Hugh Laurie a brace of Golden Globes plus a slate of Emmy nominations, catapulting the former Blackadder star to meteoric fame. At its peak, House was watched by 81.8 million people in 66 countries. Fittingly titled 'Everybody Dies' to bookend the 2004 pilot 'Everybody Lies', this emotional final prescription sees House examine his life and personal demons as he treats a drug-addicted patient (guest star James LeGros). Plus, former stars Jennifer Morrison, Olivia Wilde and Amber Tamblyn return; as does Kal Penn, who resumes his role as Kutner, the man who took his own life in Season Five. Dr Greg, we salute you!

  • - The Works

    11.15pm RTÉ One

    And so it can be revealed . . . Tonight The Works broadcasts a special edition of the programme to announce Ireland's Favourite Painting. President Michael D. Higgins will unveil the most popular painting, as voted for by the public, in the company of presenter John Kelly. The general public had their say in assembled vox pops discussing the short-listed ten artworks. Meanwhile, art critic, Cristín Leach Hughes, and art enthusiast, TV producer Bill Hughes, discuss the original long-list of 100 paintings with Mike Murphy.

  • - Glee

    9.00pm Sky 1

    School's out for summer at McKinley High and as some of our favourite Gleeks don their cap and gown, you might need those tissues handy for an emotional finale to season three of the hit musical comedy. As graduation arrives for the class of 2012, New Directions look to the past and present, while contemplating their futures. What does the big bad world have in store for Rachel, Finn, Santana, Kurt, Puck, Quinn, Mercedes and Mike? And how will the glee club kids left behind cope without their friends? With Rachel still hoping to make her New York dreams come true and maybe a wedding or two on the cards, there's lots to look forward to in this final fix. Fans needn't worry about bidding farewell to the graduates; many are already confirmed to return, one way or another, for a much-anticipated fourth outing.

  • - Temple Street Children's Hospital

    9.00pm TV3

    This week on Temple Street Children's Hospital we meet a baby named Mark Sheehan. Mark has been a long-term patient in the hospital's intensive care unit since he was born and has a number of complicated heart and breathing difficulties. In the first few weeks of his life, he had to undergo intensive surgery and his Mum, Dad, twin brother and other siblings based in Cork are all hopeful that one day he will eventually be strong enough to go home. We follow the journey of the medical team as they investigate Mark's complex condition and see the impact that his stay has had on the lives of his parents and extended family.