A former underwear model from Brighton is to be the face of Saturday morning children's TV after being picked for a plum job on ITV1.

But Holly Willoughby is not a typical smiley children's presenter. Despite a busy schedule, she is also studying for a psychology degree with the Open University in her spare time.

Holly will host the successor to the popular SMTV:Live show, which catapulted Cat Deeley and Ant and Dec into the limelight.

The show will be broadcast in the New Year and does not even have a name yet.

But Holly has been headhunted to appear alongside regular Children's ITV presenters Stephen Mulhern and Michael Underwood.

The 21-year-old is switching from BBC, where she has recently been presenting coverage of the hit Fame Academy show.

It has been a rapid rise to stardom for the former pupil of Burgess Hill School for Girls.

She first hit the headlines aged just 18 by appearing in a controversial Pretty Polly lingerie advert, which had to be broadcast after the 9pm watershed.

Prior to this, Holly intended to go to university. But with modelling assignments flooding in, the opportunity came up for a job presenting the short-lived S Club TV, a children's magazine show based loosely on the band S Club 7. She also had a bit-part acting role in LA 7 with the band.

She told The Argus at the time: "I was absolutely over the moon when they picked me."

Although the bright lights of London now beckon, Holly said her home city remained in her heart. She said: "I love Brighton. I love everything about it."

She then hosted a BBC programme called Xchange, before her Fame Academy appearances brought her to the attention of ITV bosses, who were looking for the right person to front their key show.

Holly agreed to sing before daunting judges Richard Park and Robin Gibb from the Bee Gees.

Holly and co-host Jake Humphrey gave it their all, with the Sussex beauty winning the contest with her rendition of Girls Just Want To Have Fun.

For Holly, the fun is only starting.