Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley to focus on ITV1 peak time

ITV has mutually agreed with Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley that they will step down from their regular presenting roles on Daybreak later this year to focus on their peak time commitments with ITV1.

Adrian Chiles will prioritise his role as the anchor of ITV’s extensive live football coverage, which includes the FA Cup, England’s internationals as well as the UEFA Champions League.

That Sunday Night Show, Adrian’s successful topical discussion show, will also return to ITV1 for a third series in 2012.

Christine Bleakley will focus on a range of peak time shows for ITV1, including a new role as the co-presenter of Dancing on Ice alongside Phillip Schofield.

Christine will also host Westlife: For The Last Time this December and co-present ITV’s major new charity and entertainment initiative for Christmas, Text Santa.

ITV1 is also developing a new peak time factual entertainment challenge show with Christine as well as a new peak time home renovation programme.

The new presenters of Daybreak, which over the last three weeks has seen average audiences of more than 800,000 viewers and a peak of 1.4million, will be announced in due course.