find and replace text in outlook template.oft

Hi

I've written some code based on Ron de Bruin's example of creating a mail item to send, but I changed it to open an outlook template instead. Everything works fine, except that I can't get the .body = replace line to do anything - it doesn't error, it just does nothing at all. I was wondering if anyone can see why this is? I want it to find the "<< contact >>" in the testtemplate.oft and replace it with the value from the specified sheet/cell.

Code:

Private Sub CommandButton1_Click()

Dim OutApp As Outlook.Application
    Dim OutMail As Outlook.MailItem

    Set OutApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
    Set OutMail = OutApp.CreateItemFromTemplate("C:\testtemplate.oft")

On Error Resume Next
 
    With OutMail
    .To = Worksheets("Email Data").Range("D3")
    .Subject = "Access"
    .SentOnBehalfOfName = "Joe.Bloggs@MyCompany.com"
    .Body = replace(.Body, "<< contact >>", Worksheets("Email Data").Range("E3")) '<-- this is the line in question
    
    
    .Display
         
    End With
    On Error GoTo 0
    

    Set OutMail = Nothing
    Set OutApp = Nothing
    
End Sub

I'm sure it's a simple thing that I'm overlooking. I'm just not that good with the old VB is all.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers

rbbr