[Jack_]

...and they also plan to capitalise on the lack of Big Brother next summer, by lining up a 'big new show' that Ant and Dec will front.

ITV is poised to announce a new deal that will keep Simon Cowell with the broadcaster for three more years.

The contract will also ensure that his two reality shows, The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent, will remain on air until 2013.

Speaking to advertisers yesterday, ITV's director of television Peter Fincham said that they were in the final stages of reaching an agreement.

"I had been hoping to be in a position to say we had done long term deals for The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent," he said. "There has been a lot of talk and speculation but I don't think I am being too confident to say we are almost there."

The future and timing of both series have been called into doubt in recent months after Cowell announced plans to launch The X Factor in the US in September 2011.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s103/...well-deal.html

Ant & Dec are to host a major new entertainment series for ITV next summer, according to The Guardian.

The show is one of several planned by the broadcaster to capitalise on the lack of Big Brother on Channel 4.

Speaking at ITV's upfronts ceremony yesterday, director of television Peter Fincham said that he was "talking" to Ant & Dec about the series, which he would only describe as "big".

The duo already front two of ITV's most popular shows, Britain's Got Talent and I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/...ew-series.html

Exciting stuff!