ITV’s daytime telly behemoth This Morning has really been through it recently, but is now entering a new chapter as it searches for new co-hosts to replace Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
She said: “I couldn’t cope with the early starts. I don’t do mornings. They have to be there at like, 8am. I’m a night owl. But, of course, the idea is flattering.”
Seems like fair reasoning to us, AJ.
AJ with Big Brother co-host Will Best
Shutterstock for Big Brother
She also added that she prefers to keep a low-profile – despite currently being watched by the nation nightly on Big Brother.
Advertisement
“I think, because I live in London, everyone is quite used to seeing people and no one really gives me much notice,” she explained.
“It’s only when I open my mouth, and they hear my voice that I seem to get recognised. I think I got more attention when I was out and about when I was doing Strictly.”
This Morning had been hosted by Phillip Schofield from 2002 and Holly Willoughby from 2009, with the pair presenting together until May this year, when the former stepped down before later admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger colleague.
Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby hosting This Morning earlier this year
As the search for Phillip and Holly’s replacements continue, married couple Marvin and Rochelle Humes have been highly-touted names, while Davina McCall, Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard are also said to be in the running.
Advertisement
Other frontrunners include current rotating presenters like Alison, Dermot, Josie and Craig.
Richard, who is now a regular on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, described Phillip’s departure as “savage” in a new interview with The Sun, revealing he reached out to him amid the scandal.
“I feel very sorry for Phillip – it seemed a pretty savage outcome after 21 years,” he said.
“It seemed quite brutal to be honest. I took a paternal interest in it – I kept in touch, told him to take it easy and that it’ll be all right. He agreed. All things pass in the end.”
Richard added: “We’ve all been through terrible experiences and the worst ones are the phones that come out of a clear blue sky and you don’t see them coming.
“Politicians say they’re only one debate away from a catastrophe and it’s the same in our industry.”
Richard also ruled himself out or returning to This Morning’s famous sofa, having previously hosted alongside wife Judy Finnigan from the show’s inception in 1988 until 2001, saying he “enjoyed it” but “wouldn’t go back”.
Advertisement
Phillip Schofield, Holly Willoughby, Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Following Phillip’s exit from This Morning, the programme also faced accusations of bullying and being a “toxic” workplace – something which bosses were swift to deny.
ITV has so far not found a permanent replacement for Phillip, with Holly continuing to front the show with a rotation of other members of the on-air This Morning team, including Josie Gibson, Alison Hammond, Dermot O’Leary and Craig Doyle.
However, recent reports have suggested that Good Morning Britain regular Ben Shephard is looking like a contender to land the full-time role, after apparently impressing bosses with a guest stint on the show last month.
The Irish presenter has emerged as one of the frontrunners to land the job, as ITV chiefs search for a permanent co-host for Holly Willoughby following Phillip’s exit from the daytime show.
Advertisement
In an interview with The Times, Craig revealed his love of presenting the show, admitting he feels “grateful” for chance to front it.
“I love doing the This Morning show,” he said. “It’s great fun and I feel so grateful at this stage in my career to get an opportunity to do a show this size.”
“Given that I’m on my second or third lap of this industry, to get an opportunity like this is fantastic.”
He continued: “It’s a very important television programme as it’s the backdrop for a lot of people’s morning,”
Advertisement
“From anecdotal evidence, I know that it provides company and it’s almost a friend to a lot of people. There’s a familiarity, an everydayness and a brightness that makes it enjoyable.”
Craig also praised the way the show’s wide mix of topics “encapsulate life”, suggesting it mirrors the way people can be “in the supermarket and one minute you’re talking about your kids and the next, you’re in work, discussing financial projections”.
Craig has proved popular with This Morning viewers
Craig has previously served as a guest host on This Morning on Fridays and during school holidays, presenting alongside the likes of Josie Gibson, Rochelle Humes and Alison Hammond.
Holly is currently presenting with a rotation of different members of the This Morning family until a permanent replacement for Phillip is found.
The presenter said she felt “shaken, troubled, let down and worried” about the events that led to Phillip Schofield’s departure from the flagship ITV programme.
But it was the opening words of her address to the nation that caught the attention of many.
Seated next to her temporary co-host Josie Gibson, Willoughby said: “Right, deep breath. Firstly, are you OK? I hope so.”
The opening gambit confused many, as comedian and writer David Baddiel noted on Twitter.
He wrote: “When Holly Willoughby said ‘Firstly, are you OK?’ I genuinely thought she was talking to someone behind camera, before realising that of course she was talking to us, the great British deeply-traumatised by everything’s that happened on an ITV morning show public.”
And before too long, the words had been yanked from their original context and turned into something quite different … with references to TV shows, films and politics flooding in.
Phillip Schofield has denied grooming the younger male colleague he had an affair with as the former This Morning star gave his first interview since leaving the broadcaster.
He resigned from ITV last week and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” relationship.
Advertisement
Schofield had reportedly first met the man when he was 15 years old, but said the affair did not begin until he was much older and had begun working at ITV.
In an interview with The Sun, the 61-year-old presenter said: “I did not, I did not (groom him).
“There are accusations of all sorts of things. It never came across that way because we’d become mates. I don’t know about that.
“But of course I understand that there will be a massive judgment, but bearing in mind, I have never exercised that anywhere else.”
Schofield also said that his “greatest apology” was to his former lover, who has been brought the “greatest misery into his totally innocent life”.
Advertisement
He added: “I am deeply sorry and I apologise to him because I should have known better…. I will die sorry. I am so deeply mortified.”
He also said he thought it “looked shocking” when an old photograph, featuring both him and the man who would later become his lover, emerged online.
Schofield also told the newspaper he did not “lie to protect” his career, but the colleague “didn’t want his name in public”.
He said it began in 2017 after a “consensual moment” in his dressing room and it was “not a love affair, it was not a relationship, we were not boyfriends; we were mates”.
Advertisement
Schofield said his wife was “very, very angry” after he confessed to her, having previously denied the relationship.
He also said: “She got off a plane and I phoned her up and texted saying, ‘I need to talk to you’. She called back and I told her.”
The BBC is also set to release an interview with Schofield being questioned by Amol Rajan.
In a trailer, the presenter also told BBC News: “It was a totally innocent picture, a totally innocent Twitter follow, of which I follow 11,400 people, and then it was a completely innocent backwards and forwards over a period of time about a job, about careers.
“What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with talking to someone no matter what age they are?
“Does that mean that if you’re following anyone on Twitter that you absolutely don’t talk to anybody else or you don’t give advice?”
He added: “The brief communications backwards and forwards up to the point that he came to work on This Morning I think was just chat.”
Advertisement
Schofield clarified why his statement last week said the affair was “unwise”, and called it a “very, very grave error”.
He added: “It was consensual, but it was my fault.”
On Friday, Phillip released a statement to the Daily Mail, in which he said he’d previously had a “consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague”, which he said was “unwise, but not illegal”.
Advertisement
The news he would be leaving ITV altogether in light of his admission came just a week after he’d announced his exit from This Morning after 21 years, the reason for which he’s claimed is “unrelated” to his affair
Now Holly – who is currently on a break from the daytime show – has spoken out about the recent developments in a statement via her Instagram Stories which read:
“It’s taken time to process yesterday’s news. When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not. It’s been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie. Holly.”
Holly Willoughby has just shared this on Instagram:
“It’s taken time to process yesterday’s news. When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not.
Holly and Phillip had co-hosted the ITV daytime show together since 2009 – having first been paired up on Dancing On Ice in 2006 – with Phillip originally joined the presenting team in 2002.
After Phillip’s exit from the show last week, Holly posted a short statement on Instagram, in which she thanked him for “his knowledge, his experience and his humour”, adding: “The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”
Advertisement
Phillip said his departure from the show had “fuelled speculation and raised questions” about previous suggestions of a relationship between him and a former colleague on the show, stating it was now “important for me to be honest”.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Phillip said: “I am making this statement via the Daily Mail to whom I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story which they wanted to write about me a few days ago.
“The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning.”
“I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning,” he confirmed. “Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship.
“That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over. ”
Phillip Schofield left This Morning last week
Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
Advertisement
Phillip then insisted that when he came out as gay in February 2020, he “did so entirely for my own wellbeing”, and was not “forced” to do so.
“In an effort to protect my ex-colleague I haven’t been truthful about the relationship,” he said. “But my recent, unrelated, departure from This Morning fuelled speculation and raised questions which have been impacting him, so for his sake it is important for me to be honest now.
“I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife.
“I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me.
“I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it.”
Advertisement
He also called for the media to respect the privacy of his unnamed former colleague.
Phillip’s statement was published shortly after it was revealed he had parted ways with his management company, YMU, after 25 years.
YMU’s CEO Mary Bekhait said: “Honesty and integrity are core values for YMU’s whole business, defining everything we do. Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust.
“This week, we have learned important new information about our client Phillip Schofield. These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU, as well as the external advisors we had brought in to support him. As a result, on Thursday we agreed to part company with Phillip, with immediate effect.”
But as the Harry Potter actor appeared on the ITV daytime show on Monday, she promised not to cause chaos, only to end up doing exactly that.
Advertisement
Miriam had Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in stitches after accidentally swearing as the hosts voiced their disappointment that she wasn’t letting rip as usual.
“I have to watch myself,” she told the pair.
“It’s such a shame because we love it when you just let rip,” Phillip told her.
“I know but it upsets some people,” Miriam said. “And I don’t want to upset people because the whole thing is, life is shit at the moment, it really is. It’s terrible.”
As Phillip and Holly offered a swift apology to viewers for her swearing, Miriam then realised her mistake and let out a sigh.
Miriam Margolyes quickly realised her mistake
Advertisement
“Oh, I’ve let myself down,” she admitted, as Phil and Holly exploded with laughter.
“Amazingly, while you were apologising,” Phillip said.
“I just want to make people happy!” she said, as Holly replied: “You make us very happy let me tell you.”
Phillip and Holly were left in stitches
Of course, this being Miriam, there were more outrageous moments during her chat, not least when chat turned to the bottle of tomato juice that had been left for her in her dressing room.
“I love it, it bites you as it goes down. And you know, your anus contracts with delight,” she said.
Last month, Eamonn confirmed reports that he was leaving ITV to join GB News, where he began hosting the start-up channel’s breakfast show on Monday.
Advertisement
His exit from This Morning came after he and wife Ruth Langsford had their regular Friday slot on the show handed to Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary last January, leaving the married couple as just holiday cover for Phillip and Holly.
In an interview with The Sun, Eamonn hinted at his unrest about the changes as he spoke of his new GB News role.
Advertisement
“Put it this way, I’m looking forward to a move somewhere new where they’re pleased to have me,” he said. “But I wish everyone well at ITV.
“When I went in to meet the GB News team for the first time recently the guys actually clapped as I came in. It was very moving, and felt lovely.”
Advertisement
Eamonn went on to add that despite receiving messages of good wishes from some of his breakfast show rivals, he hasn’t heard from former co-stars Phil and Holly.
He said: “Piers Morgan was the first to drop me a note and congratulate me, so did Susanna Reid, and I know Dan Walker on BBC Breakfast very well too, who has been in touch to say good luck.
“Obviously I’m in the business of trying to steal their viewers, I guess that goes without saying, but they’re all great people who I know and get on with well, so it will be good-spirited.
“I haven’t heard from Phil and Holly but I’m sure they will be in touch. I wish them well but my focus now is on GB News and taking ITV viewers with me on a new journey.”
Advertisement
HuffPost UK has contacted representatives for both Holly and Phillip and is awaiting responses.
Eamonn hosted This Morning for 15 years
Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images
Eamonn began presenting This Morning in 2006, alongside Ruth, who had already been part of the ITV show’s on-air team since 1999.
Following Eamonn’s exit, ITV said in a statement: “We would like to wish Eamonn all of the very best in his new role. As a duo, Eamonn and Ruth have been part of the This Morning presenting team for the last 15 years and we thank Eamonn for all of his hard work and contribution to the show.
“Ruth remains an important part of ITV Daytime both as a continuing member of the This Morning family and as an anchor presenter on Loose Women.”
Last week, Phil and his regular co-host Holly Willoughby interviewed the former health secretary about his campaign calling for children to be screened for dyslexia – a condition Hancock was diagnosed with during his time at university – before they start secondary school.
During the interview, the presenter couldn’t resist a dig at the scandal Hancock found himself in over the summer, commenting: “Was it your dyslexia that meant you misread the social distancing rules?”
It’s since been reported by Metro that a total of 626 people complained to media watchdog Ofcom about the remark.
As is standard procedure, Ofcom will assess these complaints before deciding whether to launch an investigation.
ITV had no comment on the matter when contacted by HuffPost UK last week.
Matt Hancock resigned from his position as health secretary in June, after photos of him kissing his aide were published in the media.
“And those of us who make these rules have got to stick by them, and that’s why I’ve got to resign.”
During the show, presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield led a discussion with three members of the stripping troupe the Dreamboys about how the government’s delay to easing coronavirus restrictions.
However, things took a bit of a turn when performer Zac Smith decided to seize the opportunity of being on telly to show off his *ahem* talents.
“Hold on a second,” he told Holly and Phil, as they tried to wrap up the interview. “I’ve been in a cage for a year, and I’m sure I won’t have any objections if I just let my hair down a little bit.”
“Feel free,” Holly then urged him, at which point he ripped open his shirt and declared: “With all due respect, this is what a Dreamboy is.”
Bringing his point home, he then leapt into a backflip, while his fellow dancers applauded via video-link on the screen behind him.
ITVBelieve it or not, things only got stranger from this point on.
Believe it or not, things then got even more surreal later in the episode, when Holly and Phil threw it back to 2015, when Olga Liashchuk broke the world record for crushing three watermelons between her thighs in under 15 seconds live on This Morning.
The duo then introduced Emmajane Smith, who said she wanted to break Olga’s record six years on.
“What I love about it is that it’s something everyone can relate to,” Emmajane explained. “It’s a great way to show everyone how strong women can be. And everyone knows what a watermelon is, so…”
Although Guinness officials weren’t able to be present for Emmajane’s attempt due to Covid restrictions, she appeared to smash Olga’s record with almost two seconds to spare.
The fact the whole thing was accompanied by the sound of what appeared to be construction work as Emmajane sat on the pavement outside Television Center crushing watermelons with her thighs only added to the strangeness.
ITVEmmajane appeared to set a new world record when she crushed three watermelons with her thighs live on ITV
We know This Morning is famous for its wacky segments, but we really think there might be something in the water at the moment, as the week started with Phil frightening Holly with some class of haunted doll.
In Monday’s show, Phil presented his co-host with an old doll, telling her: “This is allegedly absolutely rabid with spirits and ghosts.”
“And you thought you’d bring this… why?” Holly questioned, shifting even further away than the current two-metre requirement.
