The girlfriend of footballer Wayne Rooney, Coleen McLoughlin, has been signed by ITV in a two-year presenting deal.

The 21-year old Liverpudlian will present a number of programmes on ITV1 and ITV2 across daytime and peak time between now and 2009.

Layla Smith, ITV controller of alternative programmes, 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."

McLoughlin, who last year fronted a special edition of Tonight with Trevor McDonald, will start by working on a project with Endemol-owned production company Initial, called Coleen's Real Women. The ITV2 programme will see McLoughlin on a search to find naturally beautiful women and undertake a campaign to use real people in advertising.

The announcement comes as broadcasting union Bectu has criticised ITV for paying huge salaries to stars, at a time when it is planning to axe jobs.