Piers Morgan to replace US talk show host Larry King

Piers Morgan spoke of his dream job tonight as he was unveiled as the new host on one of America's biggest talk shows.

The Britain's Got Talent judge and journalist replaces Larry King Live on CNN from January, the US network said.

Morgan's show, which has not yet been named by CNN, will air worldwide in more than 200 countries, the network said.

The 45-year-old said he was "thrilled" and "very much looking forward to bringing my own style of interviewing to the world's biggest, and best, TV news organisation".

He added: "As a young journalist in Britain, I watched CNN's astonishing live coverage of the 1991 Gulf War, and felt enthralled by the courage and brilliance of the journalists involved in that coverage.

"Years later, I watched Anderson Cooper's visceral reports from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and felt equally enthralled by his passionate and relentless search for the truth.

"Perhaps most pertinently, I have watched Larry King Live for much of the last 25 years, and dreamed of one day filling the legendary suspenders of the man I consider to be the greatest TV interviewer of them all.

"To now have the chance to work with Larry and Anderson, and to try and continue the outstanding journalistic legacy created by them, and so many others at CNN, is both a great honour, and a great challenge."

The presenter of Piers Morgan's Life Stories on ITV will be based in New York, Los Angeles and London, CNN said.

His deal does not mean he will disappear from British screens.

It is understood that negotiations are at an advanced stage at ITV over his contract with the network for future programmes.

King, 76, announced earlier this summer that he was stepping down from his world-famous show, which he began hosting in 1985.

CNN US President Jon Klein said: "Piers has made his name posing tough questions to public figures, holding them accountable for their words and deeds.

"He is able to look at all aspects of the news with style and humour with an occasional good laugh in the process."

Morgan became the youngest editor ever at the News of the World before moving to the Daily Mirror as editor-in-chief in 1995.

Since his high-profile sacking at the tabloid daily, he has forged a lucrative career in television after striking up a friendship with Simon Cowell.