Alison Hammond addressed This Morning’s search for a new host live on the show – following the shock departure of Holly Willoughby.
Holly, 42, quit the ITV show earlier this month amid an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her – announcing she was leaving after 14 years for the sake of herself and her family. Sources said the move had left Holly in a bad way while also coming as a “real shock” to This Morning bosses, who were said to be confident they were sufficiently supporting the star during the worrying time.
Now Alison – who was said to be the early favourite to replace Holly as the main This Morning presenter – has addressed the show’s hunt for a new host live on air during Wednesday's episode. It came during a segment with the programme's consumer presenter Alice Beer – who was appearing to give viewers ‘heating hacks’ to help lower energy bills as temperatures began to drop.
With Alice sitting behind a desk ready to give her tips, host Dermot O'Leary joked: “I’ve got to say you’re looking a bit too at home behind that desk, doesn't she? Looks like she could easily be hosting that show.”
Alice replied: “Loving it!”
Then Alison added: “Well we’re looking for a space, so you never know!”
Holly’s decision to quit the show came after a year from hell for the star. She was blasted by the public for reportedly skipping the queue to see the late Queen Elizabeth II lying in state in September last year and then earlier this year became embroiled in a rumoured feud with This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield before he left the show and admitted to an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a much younger colleague.
Holly had reportedly signed a new lucrative contract with This Morning over summer as she aimed to put the show back on track after it was left reeling from Phillip’s affair scandal. But her decision to leave the show plunged it into fresh turmoil.
However, this week it emerged that the crew of the show were actually ‘relieved’ to see Holly step down after the year from hell. An insider told The Sun: "It's understandably taken a toll on the crew who have to work through some pretty tense and miserable times.
"When it was announced Holly would no longer be returning, everyone working backstage breathed a sigh of relief.”
The source added "morale" behind the scenes had been "at its lowest in years" – with staff hoping to have some "normality" restored at work.
Elsewhere this week it was reported that Holly had "lost a huge BBC deal" after leaving This Morning. BBC bosses were said to have been keen on signing the star for a "golden handcuffs" deal but her exit from the ITV show following her turbulent year was said to have put the plans on hold.
A source told The Sun: "Holly isn't going to be signed up on an exclusive deal for the BBC – or to be the face of any of their new shows – at this moment in time.
“Their golden handcuffs deals are few and far between and Holly was being lined up to become a major player for them."
The source continued: "But after seeing everything that has unfolded over the past five months, the BBC wants to give her some breathing space before making any offers."
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