The BBC and ITV are at war after both channels poached each other’s hottest stars.
Beeb chefs are said to be ‘furious’ at their rival television network for taking three of their biggest presenters and giving shows on prime time slots.
It was revealed yesterday that Graham Norton, 60, was the latest host to join the ITV stable as it was announced he will star in a remake of The Wheel of Fortune.
It comes after both Gary Lineker, 62, and Zoe Ball, 52, were also taken on by the network despite being the BBC’s highest-paid stars.
However, sources at ITV say the poaching was part of their Managing Director, Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo’s revenge strategy after stealing the broadcaster’s talent, such as Holly Willoughby, 42, former Take Me Out presenter Paddy McGuinness, 49, The Chase host Bradley Walsh, 63, and more recently Alison Hammond of This Morning — who the network says have trained and nurtured.
Host with the most: As one of the highest paid stars at the BBC, Graham Norton is said to already earn more than £2 million for his Friday night chat show (right). He is also pictured (left) on the This Morning couch on ITV
Sources at ITV say the poaching was part of their Managing Director, Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo’s revenge strategy after they stole the broadcaster’s talent like Holly Willoughby, 42
A television insider said: ‘To say it feels like a war is an understatement. It all seems to go very well.
Kevin is furious that people like Paddy, Holly, Alison and Bradley have appeared on the BBC. He is a very competitive man and has only one big job: to attract viewers.
You can’t help but think his pursuit of Gary, Zoe, and now Graham was some kind of revenge.
“ITV are very happy with their three new additions, they think Wheel of Fortune is going to be huge.
The television world is now waiting to see what the next move is, whether the BBC will attempt another daring poaching.’
Historically, stars worked with only one channel at a time, often signing “golden handcuffs” deals to ensure they remained exclusive to both networks.
If they defected, it would be that they would only be allowed to work for that broadcaster.
Ten years ago, Susanna Reid left the BBC to present ITV’s Good Morning Britain, while The Morecambe & Wise Show did the same in 1978, as did Michael Parkinson when he joined ITV in 2007 after 25 years at the Beeb.
In recent years, however, presenters seem to have taken back power, refusing to sign exclusivity deals and believing they go where the job is.
The BBC is currently planning to get Ms Willoughby for itself after landing her to present their prime time show Freeze The Fear With Wim Hoff.
They’re eager to find her a big weekend show to host, and some bosses are hoping they might be able to sign her to host their Saturday night dance show, Strictly.
The source added: “That would be the best revenge the BBC could ask for.”
BBC’s Match of the Day presenter Lineker has a quiz show Sitting on a Fortune on ITV on Sunday evenings.
Meanwhile, BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball has just finished filming ITV’s much-anticipated quest for a star, Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream, which will probably be shown on weekends from this fall.
It was recently revealed that Ms Hammond has signed a deal to present a new dance show for the BBC, Clear The Dancefloor, which pits wacky amateur dancers against each other.
Gary Lineker, 62, has also been taken on by ITV (pictured left on the network’s Sitting On a Fortune), despite being the BBC’s highest-paid star as a Match of The Day presenter (right)
BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball has just finished filming ITV’s highly anticipated quest for a star show, Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream, which will probably be shown on weekends from this fall
Paddy McGuinness (pictured left on ITV’s Take Me Out) left ITV for BBC four years ago to host Top Gear (right) and other programs
Bradley Walsh (pictured hosting ITV’s The Chase) has just been announced as the host of the BBC’s Gladiators reboot
It was recently revealed that Alison Hammond has signed a deal to present a new dance show for the BBC, Clear The Dancefloor, which pits wacky amateur dancers against each other
She also previously appeared on the network’s Saturday night program I Can See Your Voice.
ITV star Amanda Holden – a judge on Britain’s Got Talent – also starred in the show which was hosted by McGuinness.
He was also poached by the Corporation to star in Top Gear and present Question of Sport.
Walsh was also snatched from ITV to host a Saturday night show last year with Mrs Willoughby, Take Off with Bradley & Holly, as well as a reboot of Blankety Blank.