It is one of the most sought-after roles on British television.
And now ITV bosses have decided to hold live auditions to find the perfect star to replace Holly Willoughby on the This Morning bench in the coming weeks.
While presenter Josie Gibson, 38, who hosts two to three times a week, travels to Australia to appear on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! to appear, executives use the opportunity to audition for a presenter, who will take over will be over when the show resumes in the new year.
Sources at the network say they will “test the chemistry and likability” of some potential hosts.
They also say they are mainly looking for a wife as they hope to sign 48-year-old Ben Shephard in January to take on the role of Phillip Schofield, having originally planned to cast him as Mrs. Bringing Willoughby together.
Auditions: ITV bosses have decided to hold live auditions in the coming weeks to find the perfect star to replace Holly Willoughby on the This Morning bench
Top contender: Davina McCall is one of ITV bosses’ top picks to replace Holly Willoughby
Candidate: Kate Garraway is also being considered by bosses as a candidate for the seat
Bosses were delighted with their partnership when they Mr. Shephard tried with her last month.
An insider told the Mail: “There will be a mix of different presenters in the coming weeks as bosses consider different candidates, some who have been on the show before and some who haven’t.”
“There is a large group of presenters, both male and female, who have appeared before, but bosses will also be looking outside the show for potential new faces.”
“It’s an obvious way to test the chemistry, likability and sheer skill of presenters to see if they can easily put on a two and a half hour live show.”
“The show requires a solid duo that looks and feels good and has the ability to move quickly from the light-hearted moments to the tougher moments.
“Boss have been inundated with proposals for the next This Morning duo but they will take their time to sort it out, but there is a lot of interest from agents calling on behalf of their clients.”
Leading candidates to replace Ms Willoughby (42), who resigned two weeks ago after 14 years as presenter of This Morning, are Kate Garraway and Davina McCall.
While the chefs want Mr. Shephard to host, they have also considered married couples such as Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty and Emma and Matt Willis, but at the moment it seems unlikely that will happen.
Presenters: ITV executives believe Ms Gibson and Alison Hammond are too lightweight to become main presenters
Claims: It is also considered “highly unlikely” that Rochelle Humes will get the job
Claims that Abbey Clancy and Storm Huntley are being considered for the role are untrue, while senior ITV executives believe Ms Gibson and Alison Hammond are too lightweight to become the main presenters. It is also considered “highly unlikely” that Rochelle Humes will get the job.
Mrs. Willoughby left the show two weeks ago after she found out there was a plot to kidnap her. Her departure came five months after Schofield was evicted following an argument with her.
It is not yet known whether she will return to ITV to host their Sunday night show Dancing On Ice.
Source: Daily Mail
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
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