Kelly to quit Stars in Their Eyes

Matthew Kelly is presenting his last Stars In Their Eyes show tonight after an 11-year run on the hit programme.

The 53-year-old star, who won an Olivier best actor award for London play Of Mice And Men last month, is said to want to concentrate on his acting career.

Kelly made the announcement yesterday.

The star, who was cleared of child abuse allegations last year, decided not to make the announcement on the live ITV1 show because he feared overshadowing the winner.

He told GMTV: “It’s going to be a very special show. It’s my final, final, final. I am leaving.”

Kelly is said to want to hand over to Cat Deeley, who is filming Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes.

He said: “It is my very last one ever. It’s not going to be the end of the show but it will be the last show for me,

“I’m not going to give up television. I’ll carry on doing telly if I get asked to do something.

“It’s been 11 years. I worked out last night that that’s nearly 200 shows. I’ve put over a thousand people through the door.”

Kelly received huge public support when he was arrested in January last year as he came off stage from a pantomime in Birmingham.

He strenuously denied the allegation, which dated back to the 1970s, and was cleared by police a month later.

ITV’s controller of entertainment, Claudia Rosencrantz, said the decision did not spell the end of Stars In Their Eyes.

“We are very sad that Matthew has decided to leave but absolutely understand his decision and wish him all the very best,” she said.