This Morning guest host ‘loses battle to replace Holly Willoughby full-time after bosses decided she lacked experience’
THIS Morning bosses have decided against making a ‘lookalike’ guest host Holly Willoughby’s full-time replacement.
The presenting line-up to finally replace Phillip Schofield and Holly long-term has yet to be confirmed with a whole rafter of household names in the mix.
However, according to the Mail, occasional stand-in in host Mollie King, 36, is no longer being considered.
The former Saturdays singer and Radio 1 presenter has starred on the ITV Daytime show alongside Andi Peters and Dermot O’Leary before, but bosses reportedly think she’s too green for the main role.
A source said: “It seemed like a really good idea to get Mollie on, she is literally a dead ringer for Holly and she has a big fan base.
“A bit like Holly, girls love her and men fancy her, plus she comes across as so sweet and lovely which viewers like.
“But she just doesn’t have the hours of live broadcasting time that is needed to host a show like This Morning. It would have been a great gimmick for the programme, she literally is Holly’s doppelganger but it was a case of thanks, but no thanks.”
Other names that have been trialled for the gig include Christine Lampard and Lisa Snowdon as producers look at the chemistry between talent and popularity with viewers.
Just weeks ago it was revealed Cat Deeley had turned down the gig in favour of working in America.
She had been in line to co-host with Ben Shephard but decided to host So You Think You Can Dance? instead.
Holly quit the show in October after it was revealed she was the victim of an alleged foiled kidnap plot.
She wrote in a statement: “I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning. To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so so much.
“This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we’ve done together. I will not be returning to This Morning.
“Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you.
“Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You’ve been so loyal so supportive and the very best company every day.
“Richard and Judy said ‘we only look after this show, it will always belong to the viewers’.
“It’s been an honour to just be part of its story and I know this story has many chapters left to go.
“Sadly, however, I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family. I will miss you all so much. Holly.”