C4 deal for former Popworld host

Chung has recently been seen anchoring T4 Summer

Former model and Popworld presenter Alexa Chung has signed a year-long "golden handcuffs deal" with Channel 4.

The 23-year-old will become a permanent host on the youth strand T4, as well as fronting a reality programme about the "nature of beauty".

Chung starred in music videos by acts like Westlife and Holly Valance before joining music show Popworld last year.

She also appeared alongside Ben Elton in the poorly-received satirical show Get A Grip for ITV earlier this year.

Commissioning editor for T4, Neil McCallum, said the presenter had "gone from strength to strength and has firmly established herself as a viewers' favourite".

Beauty contest

Chung is currently anchoring T4 Summer, Channel 4's teen-orientated weekday offering which collects together Big Brother highlights alongside repeats of Friends and Shipwrecked.

In September, she become part of the presenting team on music magazine show Freshly Squeezed alongside June Sarpong, Steve Jones and fellow Popworld alumnus Miquita Oliver.

Her reality show, which has yet to be named, will feature 10 people who consider themselves to be beautiful moving into a luxury mansion.

Each week, a group of rivals will compete to replace one of the contestants - who will be evicted from the house.

Chung presented Popworld for more than a year before it ended its six-year run in July.

"If the forthcoming months are only half as good as the last year I'll still be one of the happiest presenters in the business," she said.