The BBC said that Barker, whose popularity has soared since she appeared on ITV's "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here", was not leaving the corporation, but that there was a mutual agreement that she would not be presenting 'Changing Rooms'.
She will still be seen on screen in a series of 'Changing Rooms' that had been filmed before she made the ads. That series will begin showing next week.
The BBC has strict guidelines on the kind of promotional work that presenters on its programmes can undertake. The rules state: "In certain cases, the commercial value an artist can derive arises largely from the prominence achieved from their connection with BBC programmes. We must ensure that these associations are not exploited inappropriately."
Barker's case is similar to that of Channel 4 'Countdown' co-host Carol Vorderman, who was sacked by the BBC as presenter of popular science show 'Tomorrow's World' in 1995 when she appeared in an ad for Ariel Future. The BBC claimed the scientific context -- she appeared in a white coat -- compromised her integrity.
With Barker appearing in a campaign for DFS sofas, as well as designing for the company, there is clearly a conflict of interest with her role as a designer on 'Changing Rooms'. She has also appeared in a series of ads for the electrical retailer Currys, created by M&C Saatchi.
Barker is unlikely to suffer financially, with reports that she has signed to present two ITV television shows, one in primetime called 'With a Little Help from My Friends' and a daytime show called 'Under Construction'.
Other stars to have parlayed their BBC credibility into commercial success include former 'Masterchef' presenter Loyd Grossman, who has his own brand of pasta sauces, and the 'Naked Chef' Jamie Oliver, who signed a lucrative contract to promote Sainsbury's.
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