Ben Shephard is set to replace Phillip Schofield as Holly Willoughby’s partner on This Morning
- According to sources, Ben Shephard, 48, is the leading candidate to join the show permanently
ITV bosses are lining up Good Morning Britain presenter Ben Shephard to replace Holly Willoughby on the This Morning sofa.
Sources say he is a leading candidate to succeed Phillip Schofield in the role, having stepped in earlier this week as daytime program bosses tried to find Ms Willoughby as a more permanent sidekick.
Shephard, 48, who previously served as replacement presenter on This Morning for Schofield between 2005 and 2011, impressed the station’s senior staff when he appeared on the show.
Originally, This Morning was supposed to be built around Ms Willoughby, 42, with rotating co-hosts, like GMB is with Susanna Reid, but now bosses have changed their minds and want someone to talk to most days can work together.
A source told the Mail: “Ben has done really well and bosses have been delighted with his partnership with Holly and there has been great feedback from many quarters.”
Shephard, 48, who previously served as replacement presenter on This Morning for Schofield between 2005 and 2011, impressed the station’s senior staff when he appeared on the show. Pictured: Ben Shephard and Holly Willoughby on This Morning on September 26th
Ben Shephard presents Good Morning Britain this week after briefly sitting on the This Morning sofa. Sources suggest the move could be permanent
“Ben is known at ITV for being very popular with viewers of all the shows he presents.” He also enjoys the trust of the public and is very popular at ITV. He has hosted so many shows for the channel.
“He and Holly also have years of age – he presented This Morning a few years ago and they have a great relationship.”
Shephard is currently rotating with Richard Madeley, Ed Balls and Martin Lewis to co-host GMB with wife Reid or his good friend Kate Garraway.
He stepped in more frequently when Piers Morgan first exited in 2021 and was the main presenter of GMB when it launched in 2014.
He also presents the recorded ITV quiz Tipping Point and the Saturday game show Ninja Warrior UK.
While he has also presented shows such as The Krypton Factor and ITV2 spin-off program The Xtra Factor, Shephard has 23 years’ experience as a breakfast television presenter.
In 2000, he joined the long-running GMTV show, co-hosting “Entertainment Today” with Jenni Falconer.
Shephard is set to replace Phillip Schofield as Ms Willoughby’s permanent partner on the This Morning sofa. Pictured: Phillip Schofield and wife Willoughby presenting the show in March this year
In 2005, following the departure of Eamonn Holmes, he became co-host with Fiona Phillips on GMTV Today, before becoming its lead alongside Ms Garraway.
Following Schofield’s departure, Ms Willoughby had originally hoped to co-host This Morning with Alison Hammond, but she has too many television commitments to fulfill them as often as is required.
Instead, she is regularly paired with Craig Doyle, Dermot O’Leary and Josie Gibson.
ITV said: “Ben is a very popular and popular presenter at ITV but no such decisions have been made yet.”