Amid reports of a feud with co-host Holly Willoughby, a fiercely loyal ITV boss who was once willing to take “bullets” for Phillip Schofield is now said to be “tired of cleaning up his mess”.
Fans have also been urging Phillip to step down from his position, saying This Morning should revise its hosting line-up after Holly recently co-hosted the show alongside Alison Hammond to positive fan response.
Scandal swept Phillip after the conviction of his pedophile brother Timothy – and Holly was also clouded after both were accused of advancing in line to see the Queen’s laying out last year.
Now Web takes a look at the bookmakers’ favorites to take over should Phil decide to resign.
Who could sit next to Holly? A number of celebrities have been asked to succeed Phillip Schofield as the embattled star struggles to keep his job on This Morning
Dermot O’Leary – 4/5
According to BettingSites.co.uk, Dermot O’Leary is the top candidate to succeed Phillip Schofield at odds of 4/5.
Dermot, 49, is already a fixture on the show and will be co-hosting the Friday slot alongside Alison Hammond in January 2021.
If the job were offered, Dermot would likely take it, having previously announced that he would like to host This Morning for another decade.
In December, he said on the Dish podcast, “That’s a beautiful thing.” If someone said to me, “You’re doing Fridays for the next 10 years.” I’d be over the moon. I love it.’
Fan Favourite: According to BettingSites.co.uk, Dermot O’Leary is a favorite at 4/5 as the top contender to succeed Phillip Schofield
Rochelle Humes – 6/1
Rochelle Humes is the second favorite to appear regularly on the ITV show since 2013.
She originally joined the show to co-host with her husband Marvin, but has been collaborating with various hosts since 2018.
She was recently drafted to save the day when Holly contracted shingles at 11th hour, just as Phillip returned to the show after a two-week absence.
With Holly being forced to stay home until her symptoms subsided, Rochelle, 34, was on hand to welcome Phillip back to This Morning after his own long hiatus
The presenter sat on the couch for the first time since pedophile brother Timothy, a former school teacher, was convicted of 11 sex offenses against a boy.
Could it be an all-girls team? Rochelle Humes is the second favorite to appear regularly on the ITV show since 2013
Joel Dommett 8/1
Joel Dommett, who replaced Phillip while he was away, has an 8/1 chance of taking the job.
Joel has been a television regular for years, from his second place finish on 2016’s I’m A Celebrity to his current role as host of The Masked Singer.
Fans praised his chemistry with Holly and ITV bosses organized a sweet surprise for the star as they arranged for his model girlfriend to surprise him during a fashion segment on the show.
Fresh new face? Joel Dommett, who replaced Phillip while he was away, has an 8/1 chance of taking the job
Alison Hammond 10/1
Alison Hammond has co-hosted Friday’s This Morning since 2021 and recently stepped in to fill in for Phillip during his absence.
ITV sources say she and Holly were considered “complete delights” at the broadcaster, who also took note of the feedback on social media, which confirmed the duo were well liked by fans too.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: “It was a super smart idea to bring Alison together with Holly and it worked so well.”
“It was a new dynamic for Holly, who has played alongside Phil almost every time she has appeared on This Morning for almost 14 years.”
“The bosses are absolutely happy with their decision to put them together and want to find ways to do so more often.”
“You see Alison as the future, but who knew she’d be next to Holly?” It strictly works [having two female hosts] So why not on This Morning? While no one should be talking about Phil and his future on This Morning, it’s obviously become a topic of discussion since Holly and Alison co-hosted.
TV star: Alison Hammond has co-hosted the Friday slot of This Morning since 2021 and recently stepped in to look after Phillip during his absence
Phil Vickery 20/1
Phil Vickery, 61, has been a fixture on This Morning for more than two decades as a home cook, but bookies have advised him to take on a bigger role.
Fern Britton’s ex-husband joined the morning show in 2006 and quickly became a fixture.
But despite Phil being a long-time member of the team, he recently revealed he wouldn’t “whine” if ITV decided to ax him.
Speaking with Kaye Adams on her How To Be 60 podcast in January, he confessed, “When This Morning ends for me, I’ll be gone.” I’ll be completely gone.
“I’m not going to be there after 25 years and whining and kicking around.” I’ll say, “It just is. That happens on TV.”
Cooking up a storm: Phil Vickery, 61, has been a fixture on This Morning as a home cook for more than two decades, but bookies have advised him to take on a bigger role
Ore Oduba 20/1
In 2016, Ore Oduba made his This Morning debut and made a big impact when he overcame his phobia of birds.
Four years later, the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ star was hired as a guest presenter when the ITV show was asked to permanently hire non-white stars to host the show.
The Mail on Sunday previously revealed that the show’s editor, Martin Frizell, said: “Today there is no black presenter on any of the shows.”
“We intend to change that [This Morning] examine it.’
This Morning had not had a black lead presenter since its inception until Alison was added to the roster in 2021.
Familiar face: In 2016, Ore Oduba made his debut in ‘This Morning’ and made a big impact when he overcame his phobia of birds. Four years later he was hired as a guest presenter
Eamonn Holmes 50/1
A surprising addition to the list is Eamonn Holmes, who co-hosted the daytime show from 2006 until August 2021, when he was “discarded” by ITV and replaced by Alison and Dermot.
Eamonn made no secret of the fact that he was upset with the decision and also “liked” a number of other tweets in which he was critical of the show. One of them read: “Since Eamonn and Ruth left the show is absolute crap I haven’t watched it at all.”
The host also claimed he was “not treated with respect” during his time on the show.
Eamonn told The Guardian: “I joined GB News because the options have dried up.” The “wrong age”, the “wrong stage” – at some point it becomes very difficult to find work.
“It was obvious that I no longer met the criteria for ITV and was not treated with respect there.”
resentment? A surprising addition to the list is Eamonn Holmes, who co-hosted the daytime show from 2006 until August 2021, when he was “discarded” by ITV and replaced by Alison and Dermot
Ruth Langsford 50/1
Eamonn’s wife, Ruth Langsford, was also picked at odds of 50/1.
Despite being fired at the same time as her husband, she hasn’t spoken out in the same way as her husband and even returned to the show last year to co-host with Rylan Clark while Holly and Phil were away on summer vacation.
Unlike her husband, Ruth has also remained loyal to the ITV channel and continues to present regularly on the lunchtime show Loose Women.
comeback queen? Eamonn’s wife, Ruth Langsford, was also picked at odds of 50/1. Despite being fired at the same time as her husband, she hasn’t spoken out in the same way
Josie Gibson 50/1
While Josie Gibson has long been a regular guest host on the show, it was only in 2021 that she was called on to co-host the show.
The ‘Big Brother’ star filled in for Holly, who was suffering from stomach problems, and wowed viewers so much they begged their bosses to make her permanent co-host.
Speaking of the positive reaction to her debut, she said, “Social media can be a very dark place.” But yesterday I was showered with love. It’s really embarrassing, but I cried a lot for about half an hour!’
Phil asked Josie if she cried tears of “relief,” and she admitted, “It was just so emotional.” “It was a really big deal to be sitting here with you yesterday and getting all this beautiful news.”
Show Regular: While Josie Gibson has long been a regular guest host on the show, it was only in 2021 that she was called on to co-host the show
Richard & Judy 100/1
Husband and wife couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan were the original presenters of ITV’s main show from 1988 to 2001 and have returned for a number of guest appearances in recent years.
The couple left the show when they were poached by Channel 4 to host their own eponymous afternoon show, Richard & Judy.
Judy’s last television job was in October 2014 when she was featured as a regular panelist for Loose Women.
However, on her first day, Judy was criticized for defending footballer Ched Evans, who was convicted of rape in 2012 and acquitted in 2016, and left the show shortly thereafter.
As a regular presenter of Good Morning Britain, Richard continues to be in the spotlight.
Ultimate comeback? Husband and wife couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan were the original presenters of the ITV main show from 1988 to 2001