Holly and Phil REPLACED!
With a new wave of presenters stepping in, are ITV trying out new talent for their once golden duo?
As they wished viewers a happy summer and headed off for their break, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield may have found themselves keeping one eye on the horde of presenters ready and waiting to step into two of the most coveted jobs on telly.
While the duo have been at the helm of This Morning for over a decade, it’s no secret that there are plenty of popular presenters ready to step in at a moment’s notice and, with the unexpected exit of Eamonn and Ruth last year, ITV may not hesitate to unceremoniously replace their hosts.
Included in the summer line-up to replace Phil and Holly while they’re off relaxing are regular Friday hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’leary, along with Josie Gibson, Rochelle Humes, Vernon Kay, Rylan Clark, Craig Doyle, Mollie King and Andi Peters. Former regular host Ruth Langsford will also be heading back to the This Morning studio, to present along with Rylan.
With so many capable presenters being put forward, are ITV using this time to try out new talent? Holly signed a two-year contract last year, meaning her current tenure will come to an end next year, while Phillip’s contract came to an end in 2021 and any news of a new contract or perhaps a rolling contract hasn’t been made public.
Woman has previously reported how producers are impressed with Vernon since
stepped in to host the show in 2021, with a source saying he’d be a ‘perfect replacement for Phil because he represents the perfect balance of being recognisable without being overexposed’.
Meanwhile, Alison and Dermot have proven hugely popular since taking the reins on Friday in 2021. Elsewhere, ITV darling Josie Gibson has shown that she is
more than capable, while her friendship with Alison is well documented. Rylan returning to the show after leaving back in 2019 is also a big coup – the ever-popular presenter is one of the most in-demand men in showbiz and his pairing with telly-favourite Ruth might just prove to be an instant hit. Rylan often refers to Ruth as his ‘telly mum’, recently saying on her birthday, ‘May we have many more years of holding each other’s hand!’
The show’s editor, Martin Frizell, has gushed about the ‘varied mix of hosts’ who viewers will ‘adore’ taking the helm this summer. He added, ‘Each partnership will bring something new and exciting to entertain viewers each morning across the nation, no matter what the weather will be like outside this summer!’ So with so much excitement over the upcoming weeks, it would be understandable if
‘News of a new contract for Phil hasn’t beenhe made public’
Holly and Phil were worried about their day jobs. Speculation over the pair leaving has been rife over the past 12 months, particularly due to the fact they’ve both been pursuing solo projects.
Holly presented Freeze the Fear and The Games without Phil and is said to be keen to pursue new challenges. She’s also racked up big-money brand deals and has launched her own lifestyle platform, Wylde Moon. A source has previously told Woman, ‘Holly is keen to do more of her own projects, but she knows it’s a juggling act, what with This Morning and family life. Plus, she wouldn’t want to upset Phil, who has helped her so much in her career. But she is ambitious and it would be no surprise if she’d like to get her teeth into something more challenging.’
Meanwhile, Phil stepped up to present coverage of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee without his sidekick, while he’s already enjoyed huge success solo-presenting The Cube since 2009.
Still, while the wolves may be swirling to take their place, Holly and Phil seem to be keen to remind the public they’ll be back, with Phil posting a gushing tribute to Holly on social media after saying their summer goodbyes, writing ‘see you in September’.
The pair have always insisted that if the time comes, they’d go together, with Holly saying, ‘I can’t imagine This Morning without Phil, it’s us together.’ The star has also recently said, ‘I’ve been there 13 years and I’m not going anywhere,’ while Phillip has denied that they’re going their separate ways, telling a fan, ‘Course not.’
But after the seemingly brutal dumping of Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes as regular Friday hosts last year, ITV could be unexpectedly harsh on its long-term hosts – replacing them at the drop of a hat with fresh blood. Going out on a high may also be their preferred option. So, as a new crop of dynamic duos take to the presenting floor this summer, might Holly and Phil feel a little uneasy? Watch this space.
‘Holly is keen to do more of her own projects’