Johnson, the 400 metres world record-holder and nine-times world champion, was part of the BBC's commentary team which covered the last World Championships in Berlin two years ago.

BBC lost the television rights to the World Championships last year, having covered the event since its inception in 1983.

The new deal was struck between Channel 4 and IEC, the media agency responsible for broadcasting arrangements in Europe and Asia.

Johnson is one of several former athletes in the Channel 4 team.

He will be joined by 1998 European and Commonwealth champion Iwan Thomas, 2000 Olympic bronze medallist Katharine Merry and 2006 Commonwealth champion Dean Macey.

The team includes two others with extensive experience of covering athletics for the BBC - John Rawling, who will share commentating with Rob Walker, and Sonja McLaughlan, who will be reporting on all the Championships news from the trackside.

"Michael is renowned for his frank, incisive and illuminating views and we are delighted to have him as our lead analyst in our exciting team," said Jamie Aitchison, Channel 4′s editor of live sports.

Ortis Deley, presenter of The Gadget Show, will be the host of the live programming in the studio.

It will be Deley's live sports presenting debut for Channel 4, although in 2000 he presented his own show for BBC 5 Live featuring in-depth previews of British athletes preparing for the Sydney Olympics.

Channel 4 will show almost 65 hours of coverage of the World Championships, which takes place from August 27 to September 4 in Daegu, South Korea, including all morning and evening sessions plus a regular highlights programme in prime time.

To promote Channel 4′s exclusive coverage of the World Championships, Usain Bolt stars in their specially-made ident, which is due to transmit prior to and throughout the event.

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