Natascha Kampusch, the Austrian teenager who was kidnapped on the way to school and held prisoner for eight years, is to become a television chat show host.

Ms Kampusch stunned the world after she escaped from her kidnapper 16 months ago. Yesterday her extraordinary transformation from the victim of an unimaginable crime to media personality appeared complete when the television network Puls 4 announced that she would be hosting a new show from February.

Pilot episodes have been tested with audiences and the first guests would soon receive their invitations, the network said. The show has the working title Natascha Kampusch, In Conversation With ...

Ms Kampusch said in a press release: “For a while now I have been considering the idea of coming out of the role of a passive media object and becoming proactive in creating media content.”

Promotional pictures show a remarkable change in the 19-year-old's appearance. She no longer has ghostly white skin or appears frail. Wolfgang Brunner, her media adviser, said: “First we will focus on local celebrities, but the idea is to address the international market and invite A-list celebrities from all over the world. That phase of the project will commence as soon as Ms Kampusch learns English.”

Ms Kampusch was kidnapped by Wolfgang Priklopil, who kept her captive in subterranean bunker beneath his house near Vienna. After her escape in August last year he committed suicide by jumping in front of a train.

Interest in her story has been intense. Publishers and film producers have approached her with proposals for books and films based on her life and she is believed to have earned millions from media appearances.

She has spent the past year attending a special study programme created for her by local school authorities as well as practising for her driving exam.

There are concerns about whether the teenager, who still receives counselling, can cope. Mr Brunner said that the choice of career had come from Ms Kampusch herself and that it had won the backing of her therapists.

“She came up with the concept for the show,” he said. “Her therapists were informed and they have acknowledged the positive aspects of her engagement, as it is something that she wants. She is experienced in dealing with the media, after the numerous appearances on TV and the newspapers.”

Martin Blank, the head of Puls 4 TV, said: “I am very happy that Natascha Kampusch has approached with her idea. But we very aware of our responsibility and all activities will be discussed with Natascha Kampusch's counsellors and with herself.”

TALKING POINTS

— Barry Humphries, the Australian comedian, was given his own chat show on ITV, presented by his character Dame Edna Everage

— The Duchess of York hosted a short-lived chat show in 1998 for Sky One, Sarah — Surviving Life

— Heather Mills was a stand-in for Larry King on his chat show in the US in 2004

— Paul O’Grady, who became a household name as Lily Savage, is now one of Britain’s favourite chat show hosts

Source: Times archives

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