S Poddar
Amanda Holden is reportedly set to host This Morning on ITV after it was claimed that viewers failed to connect with incumbent presenter Cat Deeley. The programme has been accused of suffering since Deeley and Ben Shephard took over presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield when it launched in March 2023. One of the shows back in September had only 696,000 viewers, which many feel proves the chemistry between Deeley and Shephard does not connect with viewers.
Deeingley, from the UK’s So You Think You Can Dance, was summoned to “steady the ship” following Willoughby and Schofield departure, due to a public scandal surrounding Schofield. Fans have not welcomed Deeley as a permanent member of the show despite his previous stints on UK TV.
Another name floated as a potential contender for the hosting seat is Amanda Holden, someone who is more than accustomed to gracing the airwaves of This Morning. Holden has already filled in for Holly Willoughby’s maternity leave and also presented on the show between 2014 and 2019. Holden has both hosting and judging experience-she can be seen on the panel at Britain’s Got Talent-and has become a fairly ubiquitous figure in British television.
Despite the speculation that maybe Holden is planning to shift over into Deeley’s shoes, it all seems complicated. There are reported setbacks behind the scenes, with reports that Holden and former co-host Phillip Schofield didn’t exactly get on, with Schofield telling an associate that Holden is a “tough” co-presenter to work with. But she has been praised for her sharp wit and the fact that she can keep things alive on the air, so perhaps she’s the breath of fresh air This Morning needs.
Other sources confirm that in the past, Holden might have been disappointed at not getting a permanent job in This Morning mainly because Schofield wanted someone else. According to insiders, Schofield was still finding Rochelle Humes, and he wanted her instead of Holden even though Holden was the hot favourite then.
While ITV dismisses allegations that viewership declined with Deeley and Shephard, the uncertainty that hangs over This Morning‘s hosting lineup for the future speaks a lot for so much change to happen shortly, and most likely candidate to fill in Deeley’s shoes is Holden.
