Holly Willoughby is set to host This Morning with friend Alison Hammond when she could launch her “new brand of girl power” in the wake of the Phillip Schofield scandal
Holly Willoughby will co-host This Morning with friend Alison Hammond when she returns from her summer break, Web can reveal.
A fresh start for the ITV program will see Ms Willoughby working with Ms Hammond on her first day next month in what could mark the start of her ‘new girl power brand’.
The two women will appear together in a major show for the network on September 4 and 5 after the Phillip Schofield scandal gripped daytime programming.
Ms Willoughby will then be joined by Craig Oliver for two days before Ms Hammond and Dermot O’Leary host their usual Friday episode.
The casting after Ms Willoughby, 42, told bosses she wanted to be with her friend during Schofield’s departure.
Holly Willoughby (pictured in Portugal) will co-host This Morning with friend Alison Hammond when she returns from her summer break, Web can reveal
Ms Willoughby will partner Ms Hammond (pictured March 27) on her first day next month in what could mark the start of her “new girl power brand”.
The two women will appear together in a major show for the channel on September 4 and 5 after the Phillip Schofield scandal (pictured) gripped daytime programming
Network bosses were also keen for the two women to co-host after being deemed a “huge success” when Ms Hammond, 48, stood in for Schofield in March while her brother Simon was on trial on child molestation charges.
The upper echelons were blown away by how attractive they were as a duo, and as Ms Willoughby and Schofield’s relationship grew strained, she knew Ms Hammond was “the future”.
A source close to the show said: “For the ITV bosses, Holly and Alison are the dream team and it’s also what Holly wanted and that’s really important to those at the top because they don’t want to lose her.” how serious Holly is about saving This Morning from the trauma it has endured since the entire Schofield scandal. She is determined to keep things going.
“They have this natural chemistry, they’re friends and the bosses hope viewers will like it.” Holly would love it if they were a lasting couple, but these days Alison is so in demand across the television industry that it’s impossible for her is to commit to the show full-time, but Holly will do her best to make sure they are together as much as possible.’
Ms Willoughby, who is currently holidaying at her luxury villa in the Algarve, will return next month to help rescue the populace who were under fire this morning.
ITV bosses have decided not to replace 61-year-old Schofield, who admitted in May to having an affair with a much younger colleague and then lied to The Mail on Sunday about it.
ITV bosses have decided not to replace 61-year-old Schofield and instead Ms Willoughby will be the focus of the show from Monday to Thursday. Pictured: Holly and Phil on May 11th
Scandal: Phillip has apologized to Holly, who presented This Morning with him for 14 years, for lying about his secret relationship with his colleague (centre) and damaging her public image
Ms Willoughby will then be joined by Craig Oliver for two days before Ms Hammond and Dermot O’Leary host their usual Friday episode
Instead, Ms Willoughby will take center stage on the show from Monday to Thursday, alongside a member of what ITV bosses are calling the “This Morning family”.
Meanwhile, Welsh presenter Steve Jones is on This Morning and will be co-hosting the program this Wednesday with Josie Gibson.
ITV bosses are “thrilled” at the addition to the show following Phillip Schofield’s departure in May.
Channel sources say if viewers like him he will “almost certainly” be among the presenters of This Morning, which will co-host with Holly Willoughby, along with wife Gibson, Alison Hammond, Dermot O’Leary and Craig Doyle.
One told Web: “The hope is that those watching at home will love Steve, he is a very experienced presenter but also very cheeky.”
Meanwhile, Schofield has privately admitted to friends that he fears he will “never work again” following his affair with the former This Morning runner.