Bookmakers have named Rochelle and Marvin Humes as favorites to succeed Phillip Schofield as Dancing On Ice presenters after he left ITV over his affair confession.
The couple have been named as top candidates for the takeover by Paddy Power after it was confirmed Phillip, 61, would not be returning to host the ITV competition.
On Friday, Phillip left ITV and was sacked by his talent agency YMU after admitting he was having an affair with a younger This Morning colleague.
Phil admitted to having an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a man during his marriage to Stephanie Lowe and previously denied the affair when his agent confronted him about it.
He will not continue with any ITV projects, including Dancing On Ice, and bookmakers have told Web who they think will succeed the presenter.
New hosts? Bookmakers have named Rochelle and Marvin Humes as favorites to succeed Phillip Schofield as Dancing On Ice presenters after he left ITV over his affair confession
Exit: On Friday, Phillip left ITV and was fired from his talent agency YMU after admitting an affair with a younger This Morning colleague, meaning he will no longer host Dancing On Ice
They also revealed the likelihood of Holly stepping down from the show following the departure of her co-host, although a return is currently expected with no official announcement made.
Following the news that Phillip had quit, Paddy Power named Rochelle, 34, and Marvin, 38, as top candidates to succeed Phillip on the skating show.
Irish bookies gave odds of 4/5 that the couple will take the lead, with odds of 5/4 that they will do so with Holly as co-host.
They also brought in Dermot O’Leary at odds of 2/1, closely followed by Joel Dommett at odds of 3/1 and Rylan at odds of 5/1.
Paddy Power also predicted a 4/1 chance that Holly will continue to host Dancing On Ice alone following the departure of co-host Phillip.
But they gave a 7/4 chance, more than a 36 percent chance, that Holly would also be replaced and two new hosts would take over instead – possibly Rochelle and Marvin.
Rachael Kane, spokeswoman for Paddy Power, told Web: “Rochelle and Marvin seem a perfect match to step into the role of host on Dancing on Ice, but given the amount of wobble we’ve seen this week, it could be any number of things give of it.’ Slip between now and next January.’
Phillip will not be hosting the British Soap Awards next weekend for the 13th straight year after leaving ITV on Friday.
Plans: They also revealed the likelihood that Holly will also step down following the departure of her co-host, although it is currently expected that she will return with no announcement made to that effect
The broadcaster has yet to confirm who will be hosting next Saturday’s event in place of Phillip, but bookies have named Joel Dommett as the favorite to take over.
Following its announcement, ITV said the British Soap Awards will continue to take place in Manchester on June 3 and a replacement presenter is to be confirmed “in due course”.
An ITV spokesman said: “The British Soap Awards will take place as planned next Saturday and we will make further announcements in due course.”
THE CHANCES OF WHO WILL REPLACE PHILLIP SCHOFIELD AS DANCING ON ICE PRESENTER
Rochelle and Marvin Humes 4/5
Dermot O’Leary 2/1
Joel Dommett 3/1
Rylan 5/1
Eamonn Holmes 7/1
Vernon Kay 10/1
Hannah Waddingham 33/1
Source: Paddy Power
Although an official replacement has not yet been confirmed, Joel Dommett is the bookies’ favorite to take over the hosting gig, followed by Dermot O’Leary.
Bookmakers Coral gave The Masked Singer (UK) host Joel, 37, at 1/2 to host the Soap Awards, closely followed by This Morning’s Dermot, 50, at 5/2.
Other presenters in the running are Bradley Walsh, Alison Hammond and Vernon Kay, according to Coral.
Coral’s John Hill said: “Joel Dommett beats our bet to replace Philip Schofield as host of the British Soap Awards 2023.” ITV will likely see him as the perfect candidate as he’s now one of the channel’s most popular presenters.
“Dermot O’Leary and Vernon Kay are both well-supported names, while Mo Giligan could be a part given his Brit Awards experience.”
Meanwhile, Paddy Power gave Ant and Dec 3/1 odds to take on Phillip at the annual awards ceremony, followed by Eamonn Holmes at even odds.
Close behind were Rochelle and Marvin Humes at odds of 5/1, while also bringing Joel in at odds of 6/4 and Dermot at odds of 5/2.
Paddy Power’s Rachael Kane said: “There’s no question ITV will be looking for a safe pair of hands for this gig and with Ant & Dec having weathered everything from Janice Dickerson to spider bites, they and the stalwart Eamon Holmes are the ones Better’s choice.’ for work.’
On Friday, Phillip admitted in a lengthy statement to an affair he said was “unwise but not illegal” with a younger male colleague, and also apologized to his wife and family.
The “unwise” relationship took place during his nearly 30-year marriage to his wife Stephanie, 59, and Phillip said he was “so sorry” for having been unfaithful.
Substitute? Phillip will not be hosting the British Soap Awards next weekend for the 13th straight year after leaving ITV on Friday
Favourite: ITV has not yet confirmed who will host next Saturday’s event in place of Phillip, 61, but bookies have named Joel Dommett as the favorite to take over
Stephanie, who shares children Ruby, 27, and Molly, 29, with Phillip, made a statement when her husband came out as gay in a moving segment of This Morning in 2020.
Phillip stepped down last weekend after more than 20 years as This Morning presenter, before confirming the affair in a statement to the Chron on Friday.
He has also resigned from ITV and will no longer present the British Soap Awards. He was also fired “effective immediately” by his agents at YMU.
In a statement, the former ITV presenter said: “I am making this statement via the Chron to which I have already personally apologized for misleading a story about my lawyer who I also misled .” [sic] what you wanted to write about me a few days ago.
“The first thing I want to say is, I’m deeply sorry that I lied to you and many others about my relationship with someone who worked on This Morning.”
“I was in a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.”
“Contrary to speculation, while I met the man as a teenager and was asked to help him break into television, it wasn’t until he began working on the show that it grew into more than a friendship.”
“This relationship was unwise, but not illegal.” Now it’s over…
“I am painfully aware that I have lied to my employers at ITV, my colleagues and friends, my agents, the media and by extension the public and most importantly my family.” I am very, very sorry for being unfaithful to my wife have become…
“I am stepping down from ITV with immediate effect and I would like to express my enormous gratitude to them for all the great opportunities they have given me.”
“I will reflect on my very poor judgment when I participated in the relationship and then lied about it.”
After testifying, an ITV spokesman said: “We are deeply disappointed by the admission of deception made by Phillip Schofield tonight.”
“The relationships we have with those we work with are built on trust.” Philip gave us assurances that he now admits were untrue, and we feel badly let down.
“We accept his retirement from ITV and can therefore confirm that he will not be appearing on ITV as previously announced.”
According to him, Phillip has also separated from his management team YMU after 35 years.
Admission: It comes after Phillip left ITV and was sacked by his talent agency YMU on Friday after admitting an affair with a young male colleague of This Morning
Admission: Phillip admitted to having an “unwise but not illegal” romance with a man during his marriage to Stephanie Lowe and previously denied the affair when asked by his agent
Mary Bekhait, Group CEO of YMU Group, said, “Honesty and integrity are core values throughout YMU’s business and guide everything we do.” Talent management is a relationship built solely on trust.
“This week we learned important new information about our client Phillip Schofield.
“These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU and also the outside consultants we had brought in to assist him.”
“As such, we agreed on Thursday to part ways with Phillip, effective immediately.”