Holly Willoughby will present This Morning with pal Alison Hammond when she returns in what could be start of her ‘new girl power brand’ following Phillip Schofield scandal
Holly Willoughby will present This Morning alongside her friend Alison Hammond when she returns from her summer break, MailOnline can reveal.
In what will be a new start for the ITV programme, Ms Willoughby will team up with Ms Hammond on her first day back next month which could spell the beginning of their ‘new girl power brand.’
The two women will appear together on September 4 and 5 in what will be a huge show for the network following the Phillip Schofield scandal that has engulfed the daytime programme.
Ms Willoughby will then be joined by Craig Doyle for two days before Ms Hammond and Dermot O’Leary host their usual Friday episode.
The casting after Ms Willoughby, 42, told bosses that she wanted to be paired with her friend amid Schofield’s departure.
Holly Willoughby (pictured in Portugal) will present This Morning alongside her friend Alison Hammond when she returns from her summer break, MailOnline can reveal
Ms Willoughby will team up with Ms Hammond (pictured on March 27) on her first day back next month which could spell the beginning of their ‘new girl power brand’
The two women will appear together on September 4 and 5 in what will be a huge show for the network following the Phillip Schofield (pictured) scandal that has engulfed the daytime programme
Chiefs at the channel have also been very keen for the two women to host together after they were deemed a ‘massive success’ when Ms Hammond, 48, stood in for Schofield in March while is brother Simon was on trial for child sex offences.
Those in the upper echelons were delighted with how well appealing they were as a duo and as Ms Willoughby and Schofield’s relationship became increasingly strained, she knew Ms Hammond was ‘the future.’
A source close to the show said: ‘To ITV bosses, Holly and Alison are the dream team and it also what Holly wanted and that is very important to those high up because they don’t want to lose her. It shows how much Holly means business when it comes to saving This Morning from the trauma it has endured since the whole Schofield scandal. She is determined to keep things going.
‘They have this natural chemistry, they are friends and it something that the bosses hope the viewers will enjoy. Holly would love for them to be a permanent pairing but these days Alison is in such demand across the whole television industry these days that it is impossible for her to commit to the show full time but Holly will do her very best to make sure they are together as much as possible.’
Ms Willoughby, who is currently on holiday at her luxurious villa in the Algarve, will return next month to save the under fire this Morning.
ITV bosses have decided not to replace Schofield, 61, who in May admitted to having an affair with a much younger colleague and then lying to The Mail on Sunday about it.
ITV bosses have decided not to replace Schofield, 61, and instead, Ms Willoughby will be front and centre of the programme Monday to Thursday. Pictured: Holly and Phil on May 11
Scandal: Phillip has apologised to Holly, who presented This Morning with him for 14 years, for lying about his secret relationship with his colleague (centre) and for tainting her public image
Ms Willoughby will then be joined by Craig Doyle for two days before Ms Hammond and Dermot O’Leary host their usual Friday episode
Instead, Ms Willoughby will be front and centre of the programme Monday to Thursday, with a member of what ITV chiefs call the ‘This Morning family.’
Meanwhile, presenter Welsh Steve Jones is joining This Morning and will host the programme this Wednesday alongside Josie Gibson.
ITV bosses are ‘thrilled’ with the new addition to the show following Phillip Schofield’s departure in May.
Sources at the channel say that if viewers like him then he will ‘almost certainly’ become part of the This Morning’s rotations of hosts who will present with Holly Willoughby along with Ms Gibson, Alison Hammond, Dermot O’Leary and Craig Doyle.
One told MailOnline: ‘The hope is that those watching at home will love Steve, he’s a very experienced broadcaster but also very cheeky.
Meanwhile, Schofield has been privately admitting to friends that he fears ‘he will never work again’ after his affair with the former runner on This Morning.
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