Katie Price quits ITV for Living and Bravo

Katie Price has switched from ITV to Living and Bravo, the Virgin Media digital channels recently acquired by BSkyB, in a multimillion pound golden handcuffs deal. Price, formerly known as Jordan, will front a number of shows for the two channels from next year. Her exclusive ITV contract ends in November. Her ITV2 show, What Katie Did Next, is one of the biggest ratings hits on multichannel TV, attracting up to 1.5 million viewers in overnight ratings. As part of the two-year deal Price's independent production company, Pricey Media, will make an observational documentary series, a factual entertainment series, a factual formatted series and a number of pilots for both Living and Bravo. Claudia Rosencrantz, Virgin Media Television's director of TV, said: "I've always loved and admired Katie as she has always combined her beauty with her very good brain, and I'm thrilled to be working with her again. I know we're going to come up with some amazing, must-see TV together." The deal means that Pricey Media is set to become Virgin Media's largest independent content producer and will see the celebrity expand her two-year-old production company further. Mark Wagman and Jane Robinson, Pricey Media managing directors, added: "Viewers continue to be fascinated by Katie Price, and we are delighted that this new deal offers the perfect springboard to evolve her television career." Earlier this month BSkyB sealed a deal to buy Virgin Media Television , including Living and Bravo, for £160m in cash. The acquisition will need to be cleared by competition regulators in the UK and Ireland. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".