KELLY'S OUTEN
Love Island bosses dump TV flop Brook for Denise
TV beauty Denise Van Outen is to replace disastrous Kelly Brook as a presenter on Celebrity Love Island.
ITV bosses have decided to axe brunette model Kelly following her poor performance in the first series of the show. Now executives are turning to former Big Breakfast presenter Denise, 31, for the new series, due to hit screens this winter.
They are preparing to offer the blonde Essex girl £150,000 to front the star love-fest in idyllic Fiji - the same amount that Brook was paid.
An ITV source last night told the Sunday Mirror: "Denise is the executives' number one choice. Now it's just a matter of putting together a deal that's suitable for everyone involved."
Bosses have been holding a series of hush-hush interviews for the role co-presenting alongside Irish funnyman Patrick Kielty, who is already signed up for the second series.
Female contestants from series one - including winner Jayne Middlemiss, Rebecca Loos and Abi Titmuss - are all believed to have been vying for the job. But after Kelly's disappointing on-screen performance, ITV bosses want a safe pair of hands.
The 25-year-old was slated by critics for being "wooden" and having a lack of chemistry with Kielty. She was furious that the comedian never stuck to their script, as she preferred to read everything from the autocue
As a result, executives have moved for Denise, who first found fame alongside Johnny Vaughan co-hosting the Big Breakfast in the 90s and later starred in hit stage musical Chicago.
They want her to recreate the chemistry she had with Vaughan with 34-year-old Kielty.
The TV insider added: "Denise is still young and pretty - but she's seen it all and done it all.
"She's the perfect foil for Patrick - who proved himself a real wit in the first series."
Sundaypeople
