Schofield signs golden handcuffs deal

From DigitalSpy...

Phillip Schofield has signed a new contract keeping him exclusively at ITV for the next two years.

Under the deal, Schofield will continue to co-present This Morning five days a week, as well as fronting a new series of Dancing On Ice, the British Soap Awards and a Christmas special in which he will "make dreams come true".

ITV's director of programming Simon Shaps described Schofield as a "great asset". "He is one of just a handful of presenters who have the rare talent of making live entertainment television look effortless," he added.

"I'm flattered to be offered this opportunity," said Schofield, "and am looking forward to a great ongoing relationship with a channel that I'm very proud to be a part of."

Presumably this will mean Anne will have to find a new partner for Test the Nation, which lately has been Phil's only BBC project

I thought that the BBC had ended 'Test The Nation' .

And didn't the BBC do a similar Christmas Show, were people's dreams had come true?

Noel's Christmas Presents (1989-99), Rolf's Merry Christmas (2001) and Dear Father Christmas, with Dale Winton (2003-4).

NCP grew out of a segment on Noel's live Christmas morning show in which Mike Smith toured the country in the "Hollycopter" giving gifts to special people.

I was just looking on the bbc website when I came across this,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/whatson/beonashow/shows/ttn.shtml

Nick Knowles will probably take Philip's job on Test the Nation.

Pretty awful as the Test the Nation shows are, it's hardly as if Philip Schofield's departure are a great loss. In fact, it's probably more good news. He's just so... slimy.

In my opinion 'Noel's Christmas Presents' was the very raison d'etre for the BBC. Quality public service broadcasting.