ITV line up Piers Morgan to take over from peerless Parky as king of chat

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But the Mail on Sunday can report that ITV are already in talks to replace the much-loved presenter - and their choice could prove controversial.

Bosses have lined up former tabloid editor Piers Morgan to present a new prime-time show from next autumn.

Morgan went down well as a judge on NBC show America's Got Talent and later on the UK version, Britain's Got Talent, alongside Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden - convincing ITV executives he is the perfect successor to Parky.

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Could Piers Morgan be the man to replace Michael Parkinson on ITV as King of Chat?

"Piers has been in for a number of talks and he is the one ITV want," says my mole. "The deal is in place for Piers to have his own chat show next year. ITV are hoping to sign it off early in the New Year.

"They are convinced Piers is the right man for the job. He has the rare ability to make people feel completely relaxed and the journalistic nous to get his subjects to spill the beans about themselves.

"He is seen as the perfect rival to the BBC's Jonathan Ross," adds the source. ITV are convinced someone like Piers will be able to drive up ratings.

"They are shooting a pilot early in the New Year. At the moment, they are looking at a Saturday or possibly a Sunday slot."

If he secures the deal, the move will be a coup for 42-year-old Morgan - a columnist on The Mail on Sunday's Live magazine - and will establish him as one of television's most high-profile presenters.

Sacked as Daily Mirror editor in 2004 after the paper published faked pictures of Iraqi prisoners being abused, he has subsequently worked hard to reestablished his reputation and has made no secret of his desire to be as famous as the stars he used to write about.

Last night Piers declined to comment.