Van Outen rose to fame hosting the Big Breakfast

Van Outen, 32, will front Grease: You're The One That I Want, where hopefuls audition for the leads in a new Broadway production of the musical.

She will be joined by Billy Bush, the co-presenter of Access Hollywood.

The former presenter of Channel 4's The Big Breakfast trained as a performer and had stints in West End productions of Chicago and Tell Me on a Sunday.

'Great chemistry'

Open auditions have been taking place in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

The first episode of the TV show will air on 7 January, with Van Outen and Bush taking finalists through a series of performances in front of a panel which will include Jim Jacobs, one of the musical's creators.

The stage production is due to open in June 2007, directed by Kathleen Marshall.

NBC's Craig Plestis said: "Bush will have a great chemistry with Denise, who brings a wealth of theatre knowledge to the show."