Sarah Ferguson, Cat Deeley, Craig Doyle… Will ITV ever pick presenters for This Morning?

Within the past year, ITV’s golden show This Morning has been through many changes. Of course the show has always had a variety of hosts including a weekly shift for the Friday show.

However, since Phillip Schofield left in May 2023, the show has been on a constant rotation. For instance, over the summer, ITV announced that instead of replacing Schofield they would centre the show around Holly Willoughby who would be joined by different hosts.

That plan only lasted a month as, in October 2023, Willoughby announced her departure. Now, every week This Morning offers viewers a new duo and new rumours emerge about who could be next. Will ITV make a decision?

ITV is overflowing with options

As every week sees new rumours about which presenter could replace Willoughby or Schofield, it is now evident that ITV doesn’t lack options. Many articles have been written about who is a favourite and why they could be a good choice.

But, so far, no decision has been made. Instead, new rumours emerge. In the week of 6 November two names came up: Sarah Ferguson - yes Prince Andrew’s ex-wife - and Cat Deeley. Both names were a surprise as the speculative articles or the viewers never mentioned them.

However, both seem like a good choice. As usual, the articles addressing the rumours list their many qualities. According to Daily Mail, Ferguson impressed ITV with her appearance on Loose Women. As well as pointing out her previous TV experience, they also write:

everyone thought she was a natural

When it comes to Cat Deeley, an unnamed source talking to Mirror highlights that she is a ‘seasoned pro’ claiming that ‘(she) takes live TV in her stride and is really witty and personable with guests.’

These new candidates join the already extensive list of Schofield/Willoughby replacements that include: Rylan Clark, Craig Doyle, Alison Hammond, Josie Gibson…

Cat Deeley could allow ITV to bring back a winning format

The Sun has put forward the idea that ‘producers’ of This Morning are open to the idea of having Cat Deeley’s husband, Patrick Kielty, ‘join her on the sofa’. However, they themselves admit that it would be difficult as Kielty is currently hosting the Late Late Show in Northern Ireland.

If we do entertain the idea and look into the future, having a couple on the sofa permanently would allow ITV to bring back a popular format: couples hosting together.This Morning has had several examples of that which include Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford as well as Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan.

On 14 October, Metro reported that This Morning was seriously considering married couples as a viable solution. Their article includes Emma and Matt Willis, Joel Dommet and Hannah Copper, and finally Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy.

As This Morning and ITV try and write the future, it seems like the past could inspire them and offer a solution.

Read more:

⋙ Eamonn Holmes reveals his death arrangements with Ruth Langsford amid sad health updates

⋙ Martin Lewis: Could the money expert replace Phillip Schofield on This Morning?

⋙ This Morning: Can the ITV show be saved? Fans believe the show is 'dying a slow death'

Sources:

Daily Mail: Sarah Ferguson joins the queue to replace Holly Willoughby on This Morning after the Duchess Of York impressed on Loose Women: 'Everyone thought she was a natural'

Mirror: ITV This Morning's 'new host revealed as Cat Deeley' after Holly Willoughby exit

The Sun: Cat Deeley revealed as new This Morning host after Holly Willoughby quit ITV show

Metro: This Morning eyeing up married couples for Holly Willoughby’s replacement