Natasha Kaplinsky quit the BBC at the start of October 2007 to join Channel Five news. She will replace Kirsty Young as the presenter of the evening news bulletin.
Natasha Kaplinsky is not due on air until February 2008. Gossips explain that she is reportedly squabbling with ber new bosses there about whether "real-life stories" or celebrity chat should be the focus of the "news" programme.
Now we learn that "Spangles" has been told she will appear on screen wearing jeans and a T-shirt. She is not very pleased at that. Don't expect her stay at Channel Five to last much longer than her contract - if that. Wearing jeans and a T-shirt on Channel 5? How could she have made such a mistake?
Natasha Kaplinsky announced her engagement in April 2005 to Justin Bower, an investment banker. Mr Bower is the same age as Natasha and lived in Fulham, across the River Thames from Natasha's home at the time in Chiswick. The wedding took place in Somerset the following August.
The news ended the speculation about Natasha and Brendan Cole, her partner in Strictly Come Dancing.
Natasha Kaplinsky was named newscaster of the year in March 2005 - and her show BBC Breakfast took the best daytime programme prize - at the annual Television and Radio Industries Club awards.
Natasha presented BBC Breakfast News with Dermot Murnaghan. Previously she co-presented Live At Five with Jeremy Thompson on Sky News.
Natasha Kaplinsky and Kiwi Brendan Cole were declared champions of the first series of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One on 3rd July 2004.
Strictly Come Dancing returned for a second series on 23rd October 2004. This time Natasha hosted the series along with Bruce Forsyth while regular host Tess Daly took maternity leave. The show picked up the award for best TV entertainment programme on the same day as Natasha was named best newscaster.
Natasha spent her early years in Kenya - and saw her first television set when she was six. She was brought up in Barcombe, Sussex where she went to a comprehensive school. In her gap-year Natasha worked as former Labour leader Neil Kinnock’s assistant - and then studied English at Oxford University.
Natasha started her journalistic career at Meridian TV in 1997 and has been a presenter on London Tonight alongside Alastair Stewart, the lunchtime show London Today and the Sunday current affairs programme Seven Days.
Natasha Kaplinsky was once asked who her fantasy partner would be. She replied: "Prince William. I'd make a great queen. I know he's a bit younger than me but I've always wanted to be queen." It is not known what William thought of the idea.
Natasha is one of the hottest talents on British TV, with a string of other shows to her name — including co-hosting the grand final of BBC Two show Restoration with Griff Rhys Jones.
Natasha's dad, Raphael, who was thrown out of South Africa for his anti-apartheid views. He came to Britain as a refugee and then returned to Kenya with his young family until Natasha was six.
Her father, a respected Sussex University economics professor, saw his dreams for South Africa come true. Natasha says: “In a way it inspired me to believe anything is possible.”
Natasha Kaplinsky confirmed as presenter of the BBC Six O'Clock News