ITV This Morning star announces major career news away from show

Dermot O'Leary has announced some exciting news on social media away from This Morning. The former X Factor presenter has revealed that his children's book about a ninja cat will be made into a musical. Toto the Ninja Cat And The Great Snake Escape was published in 2017 and is now being adapted for the stage. The story is based on his own real-life pets, and it is believed that the production will be filled with puppetry and original music. Reposting the news by Little Angel Theatre in London, the statement read: "We're thrilled to announce a brand new production of Toto the Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape, a brand-new family musical for everyone over the age of 5!

"Based on Dermot O'Leary's best-selling children's book, illustrated by Nick East, this purr-fectly thrilling tale is filled with original music, laugh-out-loud fun, and extraordinary puppetry, promising fun for the whole family.

"Toto the Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape is a co-production between Mercury Theatre Colchester, Little Angel Theatre and Mayflower Southampton. Don't miss this brand new show, the first ever adaptation of the Toto book series!"

Speaking to the Colchester Gazette, Dermot said: "I'm over the moon to see my book brought to life through puppetry.

"Toto is currently fast asleep, blissfully unaware of all the attention, but speaking on her behalf, she'll be thrilled to bits that her adventures are about to come to life, in theatres to audiences all around the country."

Illustrator Nick East said: "Working with Dermot on the Toto The Ninja Cat series has been an utter delight, and I'm thrilled that the amazing Little Angel team are now giving our fearless feline a whole new adventure in puppet form - it's sure to be the cat's whiskers!"

Dermot has written eight books, and he started his TV career on T4 for Channel 4, and went on to present and produce Big Brother's Little Brother. He later went on to present The X Factor on ITV until its final series in 2018.

This Morning airs daily on weekdays on ITV at 10am.