Renowned TV personalities Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard have been appointed as the new hosts for ITV's daytime show, This Morning. This strategic move comes as a permanent replacement for the previous hosts, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, who departed from the show in May and October, respectively.
Schofield's departure followed reports of a rift with Willoughby, and a week later, he admitted to misleading information about an affair with a younger colleague. Willoughby left the show five months later, citing personal reasons related to her family. Since then, various guest hosts, including Deeley and Shephard, have temporarily filled the hosting roles.
Expressing his excitement, Shephard stated that joining This Morning permanently felt like "a very special moment." Meanwhile, Deeley, describing the show as a "national institution," emphasized the welcoming and friendly atmosphere it exudes.
The dynamic duo is set to take the helm as the main presenters next month, gracing viewers with their presence from Monday to Thursday. Shephard, known for his role on ITV's Good Morning Britain and Tipping Point, looks forward to connecting with the audience after their morning routines. Deeley, a familiar face from hosting SMTV and So You Think You Can Dance? in the US, envisions creating an enjoyable experience for viewers.
Deeley likened This Morning to having friends over and expressed her commitment, stating, "Ben and I both know how much people love it, and with the help of an amazing team of people, we're going to do our best to take care of it."
The recent months have seen a rotating lineup of guest hosts on This Morning, including Alison Hammond, Josie Gibson, Craig Doyle, Emma Willis, Christine Lampard, Rylan Clark, and Dermot O'Leary. Hammond and O'Leary will continue to present on Fridays, adding to the diverse and engaging mix of hosts.
Acknowledging the significance of the transition, Hammond expressed her excitement on Instagram, and O'Leary warmly welcomed the new hosts to the family. Additionally, Gibson, a recent contestant on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, hinted at a lively work welcome party.
Phillip Schofield, a fixture on the show for two decades, faced a scandal surrounding his affair, which triggered a crisis for This Morning. In response, the House of Commons media committee received numerous claims of a "toxic working culture, bullying, discrimination, and harassment" within the show. Former regular contributor Dr. Ranj Singh echoed these concerns, characterizing the culture at This Morning as toxic.
Despite the challenges, ITV's chief executive refutes claims of a toxic culture on the program. The show faced another setback in September 2023 when it failed to win at the National Television Awards for the first time in 13 years. Nevertheless, This Morning continues to captivate around 800,000 viewers daily, maintaining its status as a prominent daytime television show.
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