Several hosts haven stood in for Phillip and Holly in the past year, but these two new presenters are likely to join This Morning on a permanent deal.
In a dramatic turn of events, This Morning, ITV's flagship daytime show, is set to welcome a new presenting duo as it navigates through the aftermath of Phillip Schofield's scandalous exit earlier this year. The departure of Schofield, who admitted to an 'unwise but not illegal' affair with a younger male colleague, left a void that ITV has been tirelessly working to fill. A slew of guest hosts, including Alison Hammond, Josie Gibson, Emma Willis, Christine Lampard, Rylan Clark, and Dermot O'Leary, took turns in the hosting chair as ITV sought a permanent solution.
New faces to step in for Holly and Phillip
After a rotating roster of guest hosts, the network has reportedly settled on Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard as the fresh faces to grace the This Morning stage. A source told The Sun:
'Cat really impressed when she came in, and Ben is a consummate professional and hugely popular with the housewife demographic. He’s an extremely safe pair of hands, has real gravitas, and doesn’t have a whiff of scandal around him.'
Cat Deeley, a household name in the UK and the United States, has been an integral part of the television landscape for decades. Rising to prominence as the co-host of the BAFTA-winning children's show SM:TV Live alongside Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly, Deeley's charm and wit quickly endeared her to audiences. Hosting the spin-off chart show CD:UK from 1998 to 2005 and later presenting Fame Academy, she became a fixture on British television. Since 2006, Deeley has made waves across the pond as the host of the American dance competition, So You Think You Can Dance.
On the other hand, Ben Shephard has been a familiar face on ITV since 2014, co-hosting the breakfast show Good Morning Britain and earning a reputation as a consummate professional. Shephard's journey with ITV includes work across various iterations of the network's morning programming, such as GMTV and Daybreak. His versatility extends to hosting game shows like Tipping Point and being a guest presenter on This Morning. With his steady presence on television, Shephard has become a favorite among viewers.
The revelations surrounding Phillip Schofield's personal life earlier this year shook the foundations of This Morning, leading to a period of uncertainty and a rotation of presenters attempting to fill the void left by the seasoned host. The external review conducted by ITV into Schofield's relationship with a runner on the show in 2019 highlighted the broadcaster's considerable efforts to uncover the truth. However, it wasn't until Schofield's admission in May 2023 that the relevant evidence came to light.
How much are Deeley and Shepard earning?
As per The Mirror, the chemistry between the two hosts is said to be a crucial factor in their selection, offering a potential boost to the morale of the show's production team. The reported salary of approximately £550,000 each for Deeley and Shephard, while lower than their predecessors, indicates ITV's commitment to reshaping the show's dynamics. This amount, while impressive, pales in comparison to the reported £700,000 per year earned by Phillip and Holly.
The latest setback for This Morning occurred when Cat Deeley, who had recently guest-hosted the program and gained positive reviews from viewers, opted to return to the United States to host So You Think You Can Dance instead. The decision left ITV executives 'pulling their hair out,' according to an inside source from The Evening Standard, as the relaunch date, initially set for January, now faces further delays.
Read more:
⋙ Phillip Schofield: Here's how the former ITV star has reportedly been doing since the scandal
⋙ Phillip Schofield replaced by Jane McDonald: Who is she and how much is she worth?
⋙ This Morning faces axe from TV screens after 'toxic' scandal with Phillip Schofield
⋙ Phillip Schofield could be replaced by these stars on This Morning
