Turner presented Your Kids Are In Charge with sister Wendy

She has fallen out of the public eye since being the second best-paid female TV presenter in the UK five years ago.

She is said to have been disappointed by the way her career has taken a nosedive, but impressed by how Mr Shalit transformed Sweeney from Brookside actress to singer and star of the stage show Chicago.

Turner, 41, once presented GMTV, the National Lottery Live and Wish You Were Here, but has not been seen on screen since a cookery show Taste Today With Anthea ended when cable and digital channel Taste CFN closed at Christmas.

Turner, who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, also had her presenting job for the BBC's lottery show Big Ticket axed, and Your Kids Are In Charge, with her sister Wendy, proved to be a ratings flop.

She was also accused of "sickening" promotion of a chocolate company at her wedding to businessman Grant Bovey in 2000.

Shalit sued former charge Charlotte Church

"I have enjoyed working with James Grant Management for many years and we have enjoyed great success together," Turner said.

"However, I have decided it is time to move on and I am thrilled at the prospect of working with Jonathan Shalit, who is one of the most exciting managers around today."

Mr Shalit praised Turner for accomplishing "an enormous amount" across a range of programmes, styles and formats.

"We are very much looking forward to working with her," he said.

Mr Shalit received a reported �2m after he was sacked by Charlotte Church in 2000.

He has also advised former Pop Idol hopeful Rik Waller.