Both channels are battling to keep the 30-year-old, whose �400,000 contract is up for renewal at the end of the year.

Newlyweds: Kirsty with Nick Jones

However, ITV appears to have the edge and she's expected to join the independent network's other big name presenters, including Sir Trevor McDonald, Martin Bashir and Katie Derham, says the Daily Mail.

It's also thought that she's been offered a range of other programmes as part of a two-year deal and a deal will be signed "within 10 days", say ITV sources.

However, a Channel 5 spokesperson said the reports were mere speculation, but admitted: "Obviously she will receive offers from other people, but any negotiations are strictly confitdential and she's cointracted to us until the end of the year."

In a Hello! magazine interview earlier this month she refused to rule out a move from Channel 5 News.

She said: "I really don't know where I'm going yet.

"All I can say is that I'm still most interested in doing things that are difficult, and TV, by virtue of the fact that it's live and can change while you're on air, does put an extra demand on you.

Kirsty was Peggy Lee for Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes

Reports of the move follow a warning by watchdogs to ITV to reverse the ratings slide which has affected its regional programmes since it scrapped News At Ten.

Sir Robin Biggam, chairman of the Independent Television Commission, has told ITV it has six months to improve regional viewing.

The ITC allowed ITV to scrap News At Ten, but is now making it clear that its review of the changes next spring will be more than a rubber stamp.

ITV said it was working on solutions to the problem which, it hinted, may involve another move for regional programmes.

Face of Channel 5

The Glasgow-born presenter is Channel 5's best known face and has been there since its launch in March 1997.

She has also hosted her own chat-show, Kirsty Young Interviews and presented Talk Radio's Breakfast Show Early Bird.

Recently she's been making the news as much as reporting it

In September, she married millionaire businessman Nick Jones in the grounds of his luxury country house in Somerset.

And earlier this month the ice cool anchorwoman won a celebrity edition of ITV's Stars in Their Eyes.

She wowed the audience when played the part of US legend Peggy Lee in the special, singing the classic song Fever.