Next This Morning Hosts Odds: Who Could Replace Phillip And Holly?
Last Updated
: 22 May 2023
Phillip Schofield confirmed over the weekend that he has left This Morning with "immediate effect", creating a new vacancy on the brunch-time show alongside Holly Willoughby.
Speculation of a rift between Phillip and Holly had intensified in recent weeks, but he has at least ended rumours about his This Morning future and betting sites have released odds on who could replace the popular pairing.
Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary, who co-host the show every Friday and during school holidays, are now among the frontrunners to take over from Phillip.
And should Holly, Phillip's co-host of the last 14 years, follow him out of the exit door, then the pair could take over the coveted Monday to Thursday slot on the show.
Phillip confirmed his departure on Saturday, saying in part of his statement: "I have agreed to step down from This Morning with immediate effect, in the hope that the show can move forward to a bright future.
"I'd like to thank everyone who has supported me - especially This Morning's amazing viewers - and I'll see you all for the Soap Awards next month."
Dermot and Alison began Monday's This Morning by paying tribute to Phillip's 21 years of service.
Alison said: "We all know he is one of the best live television broadcasters this country has ever had. We, and all the team, wish him all the best for the future."
The pair also confirmed Holly is taking a break from the show over half-term and said she will return to the famous sofa on Monday, June 5 - but who will she be co-hosting with?
Alison And Dermot Frontrunners
Alison is into 11/10 favourite to take over from Phillip and create a double-female fronted show, much like Strictly Come Dancing does with Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman at the helm.
The former Big Brother star, who was 13/8 earlier this month, has progressed up the ranks on the show since joining in 2002 and has proved herself while presenting the programme on Fridays with Dermot, who is 5/4 with specials betting sites.
Should ITV bosses want to bring in a male co-star to work alongside Holly then Dermot is very much the frontrunner.
The former X Factor presenter is ahead of the likes of Rylan Clark (3/1) and Craig Doyle (4/1) in the market.
Vernon Kay recently stepped in to guest co-host the show, and has plenty of presenting experience, ranging from Family Fortunes to Channel 4's T4.
He is 13/2 to take over from Phillip, while comedian Joel Dommett - who also went down well as a guest presenter on This Morning recently - is 7/1, from 8/1 earlier this month.
Piers Morgan Rules Himself Out
Former BGT judge Piers Morgan (10/1) has been talked about as a possible fan favourite to be Phillip's successor.
But he famously fell out with ITV bosses when he refused to apologise for on-air comments made about Meghan Markle during his time as Good Morning Britain host, and has appeared to have ruled himself out of the position.
On Sunday, Morgan wrote on Twitter: "Thanks to everyone suggesting I might replace Philip Schofield at This Morning in a Lazarus-like comeback to ITV.
"Unfortunately, there’s just one problem: I still don’t believe a single word Meghan Markle says!"
Eamonn Holmes is another star who is no stranger to working for ITV, but it would be a huge shock if he made a This Morning comeback.
The 16/1 shot and his wife Ruth Langsford previously co-hosted This Morning on Fridays before Alison and Dermot took over a couple of years ago.
But since Phillip confirmed his exit on Saturday, Eamonn has spoken out about his former co-star's departure.
Speaking about Phillip leaving the show on Monday morning's GB News breakfast show - which Eamonn now co-hosts - he alleged: "He was sacked. All this nonsense of, 'I've decided to step down.' I’m sure you did, 'Here’s your P45 now step down'."
Josie In Contention
Should This Morning chiefs go down the all-female presenting route, or should Holly depart the show, then Alison looks to have a great chance of leaving her Friday position for the main Monday to Thursday role.
However, her good friend Josie Gibson is just 2/1 on new betting sites to land a bigger role on This Morning.
Like Alison, the former Big Brother star has also worked her way up the ranks, from This Morning roving reporter to some-time presenter, regularly appearing alongside Craig on the programme during school holidays.
Singer-turned-TV presenter Rochelle Humes also has plenty of experience on This Morning, and the star is a 3/1 shot.
She has stood in as a guest presenter on This Morning a number of times, mainly alongside Phillip when Holly is away, including between November and December 2018 when Holly guest co-hosted I'm A Celebrity.
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Ruth Could Be Unlikely Replacement
A more unlikely replacement for Phillip would be Loose Women anchor and Eamonn's wife Ruth.
She is just 4/1 on betting apps to return to the This Morning sofa, but it would be a big surprise.
Like Alison and Josie, Kate Lawler (4/1) is another former Big Brother star who has appeared on the show as a roving reporter and competitions presenter lately.
It might be seen as a step too far just yet to promote her to main co-host, but she will no doubt be in the conversation.
Ex-Big Brother host Davina McCall, who has the experience of live TV to take on the role, may also be in ITV bosses' thoughts.
Davina guest presented three This Morning episodes alongside Phillip in January 2017, and she is now 9/2 to land the job, out from 4/1 earlier this month.
She is just ahead of Amanda Holden, who also has experience as a This Morning guest host. But she is another star who has been rumoured to have been involved in a feud with Phillip over the years.
In June 2019, Amanda took a cheeky swipe at Phillip by comparing him to a household pest, saying she wouldn't want to discover spiders, flies or the presenter in her abode during a game on her Heart FM Breakfast Show, and later that month claimed he had ignored her offer to meet for coffee.
She said: "I did offer to meet him for a coffee months ago, he didn't reply to my text. What can I say?"
In what would be a surprise outcome, the Britain's Got Talent judge is now 6/1 to take his place on the programme.
Alison And Dermot In Line For Promotion
Should Holly also depart in the coming days, then This Morning bosses will be looking for a presenting pair to do the job.
Who better than Friday co-hosts Alison and Dermot, who stepped in on Monday, May 22, just two days after Phillip confirmed his departure.
They are just 5/2 favourites to be the new Monday to Thursday co-hosts, while it is 11/2 for Dermot and Rochelle to take on the job.
If you fancy Holly and Alison to make it a female double act to front the show, you’ll find odds of 4/1 on that becoming a reality.
After those three duos, it's thought Alison and Rylan (7/1) may pair up, and it is 10/1 that Josie joins forces with the former Big Brother's Bit on the Side presenter.
She is 13/1 to team up with her regular co-host Craig, and it is 15/1 for Alison and Joel to land the job, while Eamonn and Ruth are huge 75/1 outsiders to be back on the This Morning sofa.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
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