Heat editor to front Liquid News

The duo will take on the Friday night show

Showbiz magazine editor Mark Frith is to present an extra weekly edition of entertainment bulletin Liquid News when it relaunches in October.

The show - which is the centrepiece of digital channel BBC Choice's schedule - has brought in new faces since the death of acclaimed presenter Christopher Price.

Frith will present a new Friday night edition alongside Australian comedian Julia Morris.

Claudia Winkleman has presented the show

Both are already regular guests on the show.

The new edition will start on 11 October and will offer the usual wry take on a full round-up of the week's entertainment news.

Frith will continue to edit Heat, which has cemented a place in the showbiz and celebrity market since its launch three years ago.

The former Smash Hits editor said: "Liquid News is everything entertainment news should be - fun, fast, irreverent, while being innovative and accurate."

Julia Morris has fronted several shows in her native Australia and has recently been at the Edinburgh festival.

Cutting wit

She said: "I was so excited when I found out that I'd got the gig that I nearly spontaneously combusted."

Liquid News relaunches on Sunday 6 October with Claudia Winkleman and Colin Paterson co-hosting the programme from Sundays to Thursdays live at 1900 on BBC Choice and repeated at midnight.

Editions of the show also go out on BBC News 24, BBC America, and BBC Prime.

Since its launch in 2000, the show became known for Price's cutting but affectionate barbs at a series of celebrities.

But the 34-year-old died of a brain infection in April.