Paul O'Grady confirms ITV deal

Paul O'Grady has confirmed that he will move back to ITV in 2010.

The comedian is to front a new primetime Friday night chatshow on ITV1 following a dispute with Channel 4 over planned budget cuts to his daily programme.

O'Grady originally launched his teatime series on ITV1 in 2004. However, he defected to Channel 4 in January 2006 and went on to publicly criticise the way he had been treated by his former employers.

Revealing the reasoning behind his latest switch, the star told The Mirror: "My overwhelming feeling is that this is right for me now. I know that when I left ITV four years ago it was a terrible parting, daggers drawn.

"Hands up, I called them fit to burn. That's the way I am. My gob gets carried away with me and I regret mouthing off later. It's a bit like falling out with a mate. You lose it, tell them to bugger off and then two weeks later you've made up.

"I'm aware there will be accusations of hypocrisy but I've always made it clear I was referring to certain people in the old hierarchy - not the company as a whole."

O'Grady, who has suffered two heart attacks, also explained that concentrating on a weekly show will allow him to have "more respect" for his health. His new project is expected to launch next August.