EXCLUSIVE: Steve Jones is set to join This Morning alongside Josie Gibson, with ITV bosses “thrilled” about the new signing following the departure of Phillip Schofield
TV presenter Steve Jones is on This Morning and will be co-hosting Wednesday’s show with Josie Gibson, Web can reveal.
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.”
“There is no permanent replacement for Phil, Holly will host with Alison, Josie, Dermot and Craig, and now probably Steve.”
Newcomer: TV presenter Steve Jones joins This Morning and will co-host Wednesday’s show with Josie Gibson, Web can reveal
“Hopefully he’ll be part of This Morning’s new dawn in the wake of the Schofield scandal and help give it a fresh new look.”
Welsh heartthrob Jones, 46, who currently hosts Channel 4’s Formula One coverage, rose to fame in 2003 when he co-hosted Channel 4’s T4 show with Miquita Oliver. He was later hired by Simon Cowell to host X Factor USA.
However, he quickly became known for his romantic escapades after dating a string of celebrities, most notably Pamela Anderson.
He also enjoyed romances with Mrs Willoughby’s close friend Fearne Cotton, Denise Van Outen, former Emmerdale actress Amy Nuttall and the late Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding/
Jones also had a three-year relationship between 1999 and 2002 with Welsh presenter Alex Jones, who hosted BBC’s The One Show.
The couple had an awkward reunion last month when she interviewed him on the show about his new book.
The distressing exchange came just months after Ms Jones, 46, revealed the shocking reason for their split in 2002 after they had been together for three years.
She opened up about how Jones lied about being unwell so he could steal an exclusive interview with Angelina Jolie for her Channel 4 show Rise.
On screen: Channel sources say if viewers like him he will ‘almost certainly’ become part of the This Morning presenter rotation (Image: Josie)
Exit: ITV bosses are “thrilled” at the newcomer to the show following Phillip Schofield’s departure in May
Ms Jones said she had “read all about her ex’s book” before the presenter awkwardly asked her how much of it she had read.
She turned to him and said, “As a keen reader, you’re definitely a good writer!” I read part of the book and it got me hooked.
He replied, “How much is a little?” Which side of Jones are you on? before replying, “Maybe a quarter of the way.”
Jones settled down in 2014 as he has since married American Phylicia Jackson-Jones after meeting her in Los Angeles while hosting The X Factor USA in 2011.
Jones recently said of his wife, “My good marriage, my healthy marriage — that’s my greatest achievement.” I love being with my wife. She’s my absolute favorite person.’
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.
Instead, Ms Willoughby, 42, will be the focus of the program from Monday to Thursday, alongside a member of what ITV bosses are calling the “This Morning family”.