The trio behind NTL Telewest's teleshopping outfit sit-up are to leave the company next year.

Ashley Faull, John Egan and Chris Manson - founder directors and managing director respectively - will gradually reduce their involvement with the business over the next twelve months.

Finance director Ian Percival has been promoted to CEO with immediate effect, taking over the day-to-day running of the 'bid tv', 'price-drop tv' and 'speed auction tv' channels.

"Now we've accomplished all we set out to and it's the right time for us to move on and for someone else to have the opportunity to take the company forward into the next phase of its development," said Manson.

sit-up - launched in 2000 - was bought by Telewest in May 2005 for £194 million.