Featured Image Credit: ITV
Topics: This Morning, ITV, TV And Film, Holly Willoughby
Katherine Sidnell
After a tumultuous year on the This Morning sofa, there was another surprise announcement on the daytime show today (July 28).
To the shock of many watching at home, Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary have announced that this Friday will be their last show before the summer break.
While they might be jetting off on their summer holidays, many viewers have been left wondering who will replace the daytime duo.
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Unlike others who’ve sat on the iconic sofa, Hammond and O’Leary made the last-minute announcement between segments.
Joking about chef Phil Vickery’s recipes and a piece about what wines to pair with takeaways, the Radio 2 host looked absolutely delighted before breaking the news.
"Is it my birthday today?" he joked.
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To which, Hammond excitedly said: “And you're finishing early! It is your birthday, I did all this just for you Dermot O'Leary because it's our last day together, isn't it, then we've got our summer off. I'm excited!”
“Our summer break! Thank you, this is like a dream show for me," added O’Leary.
With them and host Holly Willoughby all on their summer holidays, it seems that Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle will take the hot seat on the This Morning sofa.
New presenters have been stepping in to cover for Phillip Schofield after the ITV host left the show in scandal.
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Earlier this year, the 61-year-old admitted to having an affair with a young man – after months of speculation about the presenter.
The former host said that the unnamed man was a colleague and that their relationship began after he started to work on the show.
Schofield also revealed that he would be resigning from ITV with ‘immediate effect’ after disclosing that he had a ‘consensual on-off relationship’ with the man.
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Since then, ITV execs have been trying to replace the former presenter, who hosted This Morning for over two decades.
According to the Daily Mail, the TV broadcaster has opted to keep Willoughby as the main host with other presenters rotated in.
“The idea of finding the next Phil to sit next to Holly has been disregarded by This Morning's bosses,” revealed an ITV insider, adding: “It will be Holly along with whichever rotating presenter is selected to join her. It will essentially be Holly's show.”
Reportedly joining her on the iconic show will be Hammond, O’Leary, Gibson and Doyle – with the group hoping to create more daytime TV magic.