Louise Roe, the British fashion expert and editor at large for Glamour magazine, appears to be in line as host of NBC’s money-minting series “Fashion Star,” according to sources.
She will replace model Elle MacPherson, who left after the first season.
The show has been shopping hard for a new host, wooing Bravo boss Andy Cohen for most of the summer, according to insiders.
But Cohen, who hosts a talk show, “Watch What Happens Live,” at night and works as Bravo executive vice president of development and talent during the day, politely bowed out of the running last month, citing time constraints.
The show, where young designers compete to sell their clothes to big department store buyers, was not a ratings smash in its debut year — drawing fewer than 5 million viewers a week.
But each week, the clothes featured on the show went on sale the following morning and sold out almost instantly — with NBC collecting a share of the profits.
As a new profit model for TV shows — one where advertising is not the only way to make money, —“Fashion Star” is being closely watched.
Roe, 30, has been a regular on E!’s “Fashion Police” and a guest judge on “Britain’s Next Top Model.”
Most recently, she’s been blogging the New York Fashion Week for Glamour’s Web site.
NBC officials did not respond to e-mail yesterday asking for comment.