Van Outen's Breakfast return

Tabloid favourite: Denise Van Outen tries to revive her TV career

Denise Van Outen is to re-join Channel 4's morning show The Big Breakfast, reviving her on-screen chemistry with co-host Johnny Vaughan.

The news comes on the same day Liza Tarbuck left the show after 12 months in the hot seat alongside Vaughan.

Van Outen now sports red hair

Van Outen, 25, and Vaughan, 34, will host the show from 11 September until his contract runs out in early 2001, when two new presenters will front the programme.

She said: "I'm delighted to be returning to work with my favourite co-host.

"It's going to be fun, and I'm a true believer in the early bird catching the worm."

Since she left The Big Breakfast, Van Outen's television career has faltered, with her recent late night show Something For The Weekend receiving a roasting from critics.

But Channel 4's head of entertainment Kevin Lygo said the network was thrilled to see her back on the show which made her famous.

Vaughan said: "It's no secret how much I enjoyed working with Denise, and obviously I'm thrilled at the prospect of doing the show with her again."

Johnny Vaughan says farewell to Liza Tarbuck

Before Van Outen rejoins, and while Johnny Vaughan takes a month-long break to look after his baby daughter, Patrick Kielty, Lisa Rogers, Dermot O'Leary and Donna Air will present the show.

Tarbuck, 35, planned a low-key departure from the show on Friday morning, but the team devoted the final 10 minutes of the programme to her, and she cried as Johnny Vaughan showed a montage of clips from her stint.

Her eyes were still moist as the final verse of the traditional Friday song was dedicated to her.

Tarbuck, who is leaving to resume her acting career, was a big hit with viewers after striking up an instant on-screen rapport with the charismatic Vaughan.

Tarbuck is returning to her role as an actress

She got the job in August last year, after model Kelly Brook's ill-fated spell.

However, she warned her stint would only be short term and announced her decision to quit in April, via the Big Breakfast website.

In an online chat, she said: "It's hard getting up at four, you feel like an exiled monarch. I need to catch up with all my mates all over the country."

Vaughan paid tribute to Tarbuck - a friend of 20 years.

"I want to say Liza's been my mate for a long time and when she came to work here, they said, 'working with friends, you've got to be careful'.

"I say you don't know who your friends really are until you've worked with them."