Piers was already known to be the network’s top choice to replace Larry King before the veteran newsman was officially even leaving his show.

Now CNN bosses have had to offer Piers the whopping salary to make sure they get him to take over from Larry for their key evening show, according to the New York Post.

The deal would make former Fleet Street editor Piers, 45, the highest-paid personality on CNN – but would still actually be a saving for the network as it was paying King $10 million.

And the $6 million will also only be a part of Piers’ US earnings – he will also be keeping his high-profile judging job on NBC TV’s America’s Got Talent.

NBC chief Jeff Zucker said Morgan would be staying on as a judge on America’s Got Talent for another three years and that NBC had no problems with him appearing both on CNN and NBC.

While the deal will make Piers one of the most high-profile journalists in the States, there is still some concern whether he is the right man for the job.

Firstly, while well-known in the UK, there is fear that his lower-profile in the States may turn off some viewers used to tuning in to King.

And some also fear that Piers’ reputation as a fearsome interviewer may put off many big name guests.

Source: Splash News

As the world waits to see if Piers Morgan will replace chat show legend Larry King, Simon Cowell has revealed he helped broker a deal for his pal to replace the CNN host.

Speaking to ex-girlfriend Terri Seymour in an interview for Extra TV, the American Idol judge spilt the beans and said he helped his pal arrange a deal with the television network.

Cowell said: “[Morgan] was under contract to us on America’s Got Talent, so he called me and we helped sort of broker the deal. I knew about this weeks ago.”

So far, CNN has not gone on the record to say that UK journalist Morgan will replace the veteran newsman, but Cowell said he has every confidence in Morgan’s interviewing skills.

“Piers is without question the best interviewer I’ve ever been interviewed by … apart from you, Terri,” he said.

Source: Splash News

Veteran newsman Larry King could not hide his sadness as he told his viewers he was ending his show after 25 years.

The legendary interviewer sounded sombre as he started his nightly show on CNN, confirming he was leaving.

His announcement followed mounting speculation that the news network had already approached both Piers Morgan and Katie Couric as possible replacements.

But King insisted that the decision was totally his, stressing: “There was no pressure from CNN. I love what I do, but it was time.”

Instead, he did not deny that he was leaving his nightly show – the longest running of its kind in news history – because of the marriage woes that saw him recently announcing his divorce before making another stab at it.

As his show started at 9pm on Tuesday, King told viewers in a slow, sad-sounding voice: “Before I start the show tonight, I want to share some personal news with you …”

He then went on to talk about his first ever broadcast of Larry King Live before adding: “Now, decades later, I talked to the guys here at CNN and I told them I would like to end Larry King Live, the nightly show, this fall and CNN has graciously accepted to agree to it, giving me more time for my wife and I to get to the kids’ little league games.

“I’ll still be a part of the CNN family, hosting several Larry King specials on major national and international subjects.

“We’ll be here for a lot of time before a replacement is found.”

Source: Splash News

Anderson Cooper is being sued by a woman for injuries she sustained in a fall at a firehouse he owns in New York, RadarOnline reports.

The 29-year-old woman, Killian O’Brien, alleged in September 2009 she fell through a hole in the floor at a firehouse the CNN news star is converting due to the opening not being covered or guarded.

“The defendants and/or their agents, servants, and employees did not properly furnish or erect, or cause to be furnished or erected, safety devices that were constructed, placed, and operated so as to give proper protection to the plaintiff,” states O’Brien, an interior designer.

O’Brien in her suit seeking unspecified damages claimed she became “sick, sore, and disabled”, and has suffered “severe and permanent personal injuries to her body”.

The 31-year-old actor posted a video on UStream.tv of the build-up to the one-millionth follower joining. In it he said: “This is a dogfight, people. It’s coming down to it… CNN is pushing hard, they’re coming up on us. We are almost there, we are a thousand followers away, less than a thousand followers away, CNN is trailing, it’s not out of reach yet.”

The winner of the race to a million followers on the site said they would donate 10,000 mosquito nets to charity in time for World Malaria Day, and Kutcher estimated this would cost around $100,000.

The actor then produces a cheque he has made out to the Malaria No More Fund. He said: “This is a cheque folks for $100,000 made out to Malaria No More Fund.”

Ashton finally reached one million followers and later posted messages on his Twitter page saying: “Victory is ours!!!!!!!!” and “YOU GUYS are AMAZING”.