[Steve in Pudsey]

Yes it's a good move for everyone. Ian has more or less said in press interviews that he was patiently biding his time as Harry's understudy expecting to be in with a good shout of getting the gig when he retired. The Beeb going single headed scuppered that.

I don't think ITV could have found a better fit if they had tried, somebody who has been doing the equivalent job for decades, solid journalist known and trusted by the audience and has worked with the co-presenter successfully in the past.
That ticks a lot of boxes before you even thought about what he can offer through his experience as a producer and knowing the TV industry inside out. You just know the next set of YTV anniversary packages already have his name on them.

And for the BBC, the beancounters get to chalk up another one to natural wastage, although I'm sure the team on the ground are already missing his versatility.