Konnie Huq to front The Xtra Factor

Konnie Huq will be the new host of The Xtra Factor, it has been confirmed. The former Blue Peter presenter will host the seventh series of The X Factor's ITV2 spin-off show, when it returns later in the summer. Previous hosts have been Ben Shephard, Fearne Cotton and, most recently, Holly Willoughby. Konnie will join the team on Wednesday as auditions for the talent search begin in Glasgow. She will then travel to venues across the country as thousands set out to prove they are the next big thing. Konnie said: "I am delighted to be joining The Xtra Factor team. It's amazing to be a part of one of the most popular and well-loved shows on television and I can't wait to get started." Claire Zolkwer, ITV's Commissioning Editor for Entertainment said “We're thrilled that Konnie is going to be joining Xtra Factor. Her broadcast experience alongside her enthusiasm for the show will be a great asset to ITV2." Click here to watch whatsontv.co.uk's weekly soaps video preview, the Soap Scoop

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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.