Dermot O'Leary to present ITV's This Morning

The TV host will fill in for Philip Schofield on the daytime show in January

Jess Denham
Thursday 05 December 2013 17:10 GMT
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Suited and booted: Dermot O'Leary will fill in for Philip Schofield on 'This Morning' in the New Year
Suited and booted: Dermot O'Leary will fill in for Philip Schofield on 'This Morning' in the New Year

TV presenter Dermot O’Leary will guest host This Morning alongside Holly Willoughby while her co-star Philip Schofield is away in January.

Fresh from presenting popular talent competition The X Factor, O’Leary will fill in for a week when Schofield leaves to film the latest series of gameshow The Cube.

O’Leary is reportedly “delighted” to be guest presenting the British daytime show. “When Holly called me and asked, I couldn’t resist, I really miss working with her and am looking forward to having some fun,” he told Digital Spy.

“I’m a huge admired of Phillip, so to be asked to stand in for the great man is indeed an honour – I can’t wait”

Adam Vandermark, editor of This Morning, has said he is “thrilled” that O’Leary will be guest hosting in the New Year. “He and Holly have great chemistry which is no surprise because they are such good friends,” he said.

O’Leary and Willoughby have worked together previously on The X Factor when she hosted spin-off behind the scenes show The Xtra Factor on ITV2.

Earlier today it was announced that Kate Hopkins has reportedly been axed from This Morning after posting an ill-timed tweet about life expectancy in Scotland just hours after news broke of the fatal Glasgow helicopter crash.

Thousands of viewers signed an online petition to drop the former Apprentice contestant from her regular social commentator slot on the show.

In response, ITV have released this statement: “We have no plans for Katie Hopkins to appear on This Morning at this present time.”

The broadcaster is yet to comment on whether she’ll retain her position on the show or not.

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