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Ashton Kutcher will replace Charlie Sheen in the hit CBS comedy Two and a Half Men, Warner Bros Television says.

Kutcher, who is married to actress Demi Moore, has hosted the prank show Punk'd and is probably best known as Michael Kelso on Fox's That 70s Show.

"I can't replace Charlie Sheen but I'm going to work my ass off to entertain the hell out of people," Kutcher said.

Warner cut the show short and fired Sheen two months ago amid outbursts and reported problems with drink and drugs.

Kutcher is a prolific tweeter and had earlier hinted on Twitter that he had the role, when he said: "What's the square root of 6.25?" (answer: 2.5).

"We are so lucky to have someone as talented, joyful and just plain remarkable as Ashton joining our family," said Chuck Lorre, the show's creator and executive producer.

"Added to that is the deep sigh of relief knowing that our family stays together. If I was any happier, it'd be illegal."

Sheen, who played hedonistic jingle writer Charlie Harper, was involved in a series of incidents that suggested he had personal problems.

Despite that, Two and a Half Men had continued its ratings success on the CBS network until Sheen's abrupt departure cut short the eighth series.

CBS said production on the ninth series of the comedy would start in the summer for broadcast in the autumn.