Denise Van Outen loses appetite for 4am breakfast show start

Denise Van Outen is considering quitting her London breakfast radio show because the early hours are taking a toll on her health.

The presenter told bosses at Capital radio she is exhausted after five months of getting up at 4am to co-host the show with Johnny Vaughan.

She said the early start was making her ill - and she is now in talks about her future on the station.

Van Outen, 34, was reunited with her former Big Breakfast host in February in a bid to boost 42-year-old Vaughan's flagging ratings. But their on-screen chemistry failed to win new radio listeners and last week official figures revealed the breakfast show's reach is down to 772,000 listeners - in contrast to Neil Fox's show on Magic, which has 868,000 listeners.

A radio industry source said today: "Denise went to speak to management about how the early mornings were playing with her health.

"They discussed how to move forward. Her contract is under discussion - it's all up in the air when she finishes there, if she does finish. They will come to an agreement fairly shortly."

Van Outen, who is on holiday, signed a year's contract with Capital in February. But she also had TV projects on the go at the same time, including being a panellist on BBC1's recent talent show I'd Do Anything. She then landed ITV1's Who Dares Sings, and is due to present Sky One's Hairspray: The School Musical.

Van Outen has also expressed a desire to return to the West End. She is being replaced by model Lisa Snowdon while she is on holiday. Snowdon, 36, has proved popular after stepping in previously and is tipped to have the job permanently when Van Outen bows out.

Speaking on her first day on the Capital show, Van Outen said: "I had to set four alarms clocks this morning and was up at 4.15, which I'll have to get used to, but I was surprised by how perky I felt."

She is due back on the show on Monday morning. Vaughan took over the Capital breakfast in April 2004 from longtime host Chris Tarrant.