Ben Shephard scores Sky Sports presenter's job

Ben Shephard has landed a contract to become a presenter on Sky Sports.

The 35-year-old will anchor the broadcast of live Uefa Champions League matches and co-present Goals On Sunday.

The presenter, who has been on GMTV for a decade and is being replaced by Adrian Chiles, said he was 'excited' about 'this new chapter in my career' and 'the chance to indulge my passion for football'.

He joked: "My wife can no longer nag me about my football viewing!"

Shephard's TV credits have included The Bigger Breakfast, the launch of T4 and The Krypton Factor.

He began working on GMTV by presenting the showbiz strand Entertainment Today before becoming one of its main presenters.

Shephard, a West Ham fan who leaves GMTV on Friday, has interviewed sports stars such as Harry Redknapp, Kenny Dalglish and Jonny Wilkinson in the past.

He will co-present Goals On Sunday with Chris Kamara and selected live Uefa Champions League matches for Sky, making his debut on August 15, in a deal reported in The Mirror to be worth up to £495,000 a year.

Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said: "Ben is one of the brightest talents on British television, a fantastic presenter, and we've been following his career with interest for years. His passion for sport and experience presenting live television mean he's perfect for Sky Sports."