(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Piers Morgan will replace Larry King on CNN, it has been confirmed.

The British journalist and TV personality will take over from the 76-year-old talk show host when he retires in January. CNN announced Piers appointment today, after months of speculation about who would win the coveted position.

Piers, 45, is thrilled about his new role, which will see him interview some of the worlds most prominent people every weeknight.

I am thrilled to be joining CNN, and very much looking forward to bringing my own style of interviewing to the worlds biggest, and best, TV news organisation, he said in a statement. I have watched Larry King Live for much of the last 25 years, and dreamed of one day filling the legendary suspenders of the man I consider to be the greatest TV interviewer of them all.

To now have the chance to work with Larry and Anderson Cooper, and to try and continue the outstanding journalistic legacy created by them, and so many others at CNN, is both a great honour, and a great challenge.

Piers will begin filming his new show in January. It will air in more than 200 countries worldwide.

CNN/US President Jon Klein said Piers was a natural fit for the network, and praised his personality and interviewing style.

Piers has made his name posing tough questions to public figures, holding them accountable for their words and deeds, Jon said in a statement. He is able to look at all aspects of the news with style and humour with an occasional good laugh in the process.

He is a natural fit with Anderson Cooper, Eliot Spitzer and Kathleen Parker in our prime time line up, and the ideal choice to update the storied tradition of newsmaker talk on CNN.

Piers is expected to continue judging Americas Got Talent on NBC.

Larry, 76, has been hosting the Larry King Live show every night for 25 years. He is still planning to host one-off specials for CNN, but has quit his full-time position to spend more time with his wife and young children. (C) Cover Media