Former Bizarre editor Gordon Smart has been confirmed as the host of the flagship evening show on News UK's new TV channel.

The venture is a rival to the upcoming new GB News channel, but is understood to be an evening-only offering and is likely to stream online only when it launches.

Smart, who spent 14 years at The Sun, will host the weeknightly show - provisionally called News To Me - alongside "a lineup of brilliant and well-connected young talent from across showbiz journalism".

David Rhodes, who is heading up the new venture for News UK, said: "Gordon Smart is one of the best-connected journalists in the business and brings with him a charm and wit that viewers will warm to.

"Audiences are seeking out news programming where they already find entertainment today – live and on demand via digital platforms.

"We are excited that Gordon will help us to start visualising the best of our journalism and more."

Smart, who has also hosted shows on Radio X, added: "We are putting together a great team of people, in front and behind the camera, to tackle entertainment news in a fresh and exciting way. I can't wait to get started – carrying on where I left off on live radio."

The new service is expected to launch later this year.