Coleen McLoughlin Signs Exclusive TV Deal

Style icon, columnist and TV presenter Coleen has signed an exclusive two year television deal with ITV that will see her presenting shows across ITV’s family of channels.

Announcing the deal, Layla Smith, Controller of Alternative Programmes at ITV said: “I think she’s the perfect face and a great personality for ITV. She’s someone who’s found huge recognition and yet remained completely grounded and true to herself, we look forward to her bringing a fresh outlook to ITV.”

Paul Stretford, Coleen’s business manager said: “This deal will go towards our long term objective for Coleen to become a household name. ITV is a leader in its field and fits with our strategy of working with leaders in their marketplace.”

Coleen, who last year presented a special edition of Tonight with Trevor McDonald on genetic Rett syndrome, has a number of programmes lined up for ITV1 and ITV2 across both daytime and peak time between now and 2009.

Coleen said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining ITV, it is a true home of family entertainment and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Her first project is a series made by Initial for ITV2, sends her on a mission to find naturally beautiful women which will see her spearheading a campaign to use ‘real’ women in advertising.

In each episode of Coleen’s Real Women the nation’s favourite girl next door will scour the streets in search of a ‘real’ woman for a new and high profile modelling assignment. These will be genuine jobs but with one major difference – all professional models will be barred and only total amateurs will be eligible.

Nick Samwell-Smith, Creative Director at Initial said: “Coleen is one of the most talked about women in Britain today and is the perfect role model to front this show. Her glamorous, fun style has made a big noise in the media and has challenged ‘size zero’ stereotypes, which is exactly what this series is set to do.”

Sick of the fashion industry’s size zero aesthetic, Coleen believes that more real people should make it in the competitive advertising world.

Coleen, 21 added: “I want to give ordinary people the same opportunities I’ve had and persuade the most image conscious in the world that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean bad.”