Trinny and Susannah defect to ITV

Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine, known best for What Not To Wear, have defected from the BBC, instead signing with ITV.

The duo, who will front a new lifestyle show next year, said they wanted "fresh challenges" and a "new environment".

A spokesperson for the BBC said that the corporation understood that "after five series the time may be right for a change...we quite understand that Trinny and Susannah want to pursue new opportunities."

Simon Shaps, director of television at ITV, said that the pair have "tremendous appeal to all ages...their style is direct, irreverent...highly amusing...it is the empathy they have with the men and women they make over and the incredible stories we hear along the way that we want to develop."

Trinny and Susannah began working in television over a decade ago, quickly becoming famed for sharp, unforgiving comments on people's dress sense.