ITV in new presenter shake up as star swaps from This Morning to Good Morning Britain
ITV sparked a new presenter shake-up as a popular star swapped from This Morning to the Good Morning Britain hot-seat.
Show anchor Ben Shephard, 48, was forced to set his alarm a few hours earlier as he arrived for his regular Thursday presenting role alongside Susanna Reid, 52.
The Tipping Point favourite is a regular Good Morning Britain frontman every Thursday and Friday.
Yet his schedule changed this week after he was seen alongside Holly Willoughby, 42, hosting This Morning, leaving him to joke on today’s GMB how he had been was “moonlighting.”
After the pair welcomed viewers, Susanna told Ben: “You are on the wrong show!”
He replied: “I have been moonlighting next door,” to which Susanna quipped: “I feel like you’ve been cheating!”
Ben burst into giggles as she added: “I saw you with another woman!”
Susanna added as a clip of Ben and Holly played out: “Ohh you’re like ‘oh Holly, oh Holly!’
“You know he was texting me saying ‘they give you cheesecake on this show!’ – in the green room, can we get cheesecake with strawberries on the top to keep him?”
Ben then added: “There are many good things about the show next door,” before he said: “I am thrilled to be here.”
Susanna then said: “Stay here, we want you here. Hands off!”
Ben then surmised: “I am happy to be here.”
Ben’s hosting gig followed the turmoil that engulfed This Morning in the spring.
Phillip Schofield, Holly’s longtime best pal and co-star, was axed from the show and ITV more widely after admitting to an affair with a much younger male colleague.
Since then, Holly has hosted the daytime TV show alongside a rotating roster of ITV stars including Josie Gibson, Alison Hammond, Dermot O’Leary and Craig Doyle.
Yet while Good Morning Britain fans are no doubt delighted to have Ben back today – This Morning viewers are also attempting to claim him for the later show.
After his presenting stint this week, they have demanded he is given a permanent presenting spot alongside Holly.
Many called for him to get the full-time job – saying Ben and Holly make the “perfect match”.
One fan wrote: “Ben’s a natural for this show – class act. They should ditch Holly and permanently pair him up with someone else
Another posted: “Ben should be permanent with Holly. They’ve worked together loads. He can laugh at the right moment.”
It comes after Holly told The Sun at the NTAs that she is keen to have a permanent co-host but said it’s up to fans who she gets.
Meanwhile, a new This Morning trailer that aired earlier this month placed Holly centre stage, showing the channel still has faith in her.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: “Holly is the future and ITV wanted to make that clear. It’s a sure sign that she is at the helm and the other presenters will join her.
“It’s a brand new start for This Morning, the scandal could have destroyed it but it has managed to keep going. There is a lot of excitement.”