Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard are reportledy set to be announced as the new permeant presenters of ITV’s This Morning, replacing Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
The duo, who have both guest hosted the show, but never together, are believed to have impressed ITV bosses with their ‘chemistry’ – possibly from an unaired screen test.
According to The Sun 49-year-old Ben’s ‘clean cut image’ was also a factor in him getting the job as the show continues to distance itself from Phillip’s scandalous affair with a younger male colleague.
Meanwhile Cat, 47, has proven popular with viewers after being drafted when Holly quit for the ‘sake of her family’ amid a foiled kidnap and murder her.
A source told the publication: ‘Cat really impressed when she came in, and Ben is a consummate professional and hugely popular with the housewife demographic’.
Cat Deeley, 47, and Ben Shephard, 49, are reportledy set to be announced as the new permeant presenters of ITV ‘s This Morning – replacing Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby
The duo, who have both guest hosted the show, but never together, are said to have impressed ITV bosses with their ‘chemistry’ – possibly from an unaired screen test (Former hosts Phillip and Holly pictured on the show in 2018)
‘[Ben is] an extremely safe pair of hands, has real gravitas, and doesn’t have a whiff of scandal around him — he’s purer than pure’.
Before adding: ‘Lots of people were considered, but ultimately it’s all about chemistry.’
Cat and Ben are both believed to be in final negotiations with the broadcaster and can expect salaries of £550K-a-year, which is £150K less than their processors.
Cat’s reps declined to comment.
MailOnline have also contacted Ben’s representatives and ITV.
It comes after Friday hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have stepped in as regular presenters alongside a roster of rotating stars including Josie Gibson, Craig Doyle, Emma Willis, Rylan, Rochelle Humes, Andi Peters and Mollie King.
The Sun reports that Dermot will be ‘taken aside’ by bosses after missing out on the top job to make sure he ‘remains happy’ and continues to be apart of the new look show’s future.
Last week it was Emma Willis emerged as the bookies favourite to take on the role of This Morning’s permanent host after impressing viewers with her consummate appearance.
Ben’s ‘clean cut image’ was also a factor in him getting the job as the show continues to distance itself from Phillip’s scandalous affair with a younger male colleague (Ben pictured hosting with Holly in September)
Meanwhile Cat has proven popular with viewers after being drafted when Holly quit for the ‘sake of her family’ amid a foiled plot to murder and kidnap her (Cat pictured hosting with Rylan in November)
Cat and Ben are both believed to be in final negotiations with the broadcaster and can expect salaries of £550K-a-year, which is £150K less than their processors
The seasoned presenter kicked off the week with Rylan, another popular fixture, five years after they worked to together on recently resurrected reality show Big Brother.
Emma, 47, previously hosted Big Brother during its previous incarnation on Channel 5, while Rylan, 35, fronted sister show Bit On The Side, and the pair have also hosted This Morning together in the past.
The star replaced Cat, who hosted the show alongside Rylan earlier this month in what has been a revolving carousel of part-time presenters since Willoughby’s abrupt departure in October.
And her undeniable popularity has been duly noted among bookmakers, with Ladbrokes giving her odds of 11/10 to claim the coveted presenting role full time.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: ‘Emma Willis made a major impact on This Morning today and after instantly sparking a flurry of bets, she is the new favorite to replace Holly Willoughby.’
Former Friday hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have stepped in as regular presenters alongside a roster of rotating stars
Last week it was Emma Willis emerged as the bookies favourite to take on the role of This Morning’s permanent host after impressing viewers with her consummate appearance
Elsewhere show regular Alison Hammond has odds of 2/1, Josie Gibson is 5/2 /1, Rochelle Humes, , 6/1, Kate Garraway, 10/1, and Storm Huntley, 14/1, while Abbey Clancy and Angela Scanlon are tied at 16/1.
ans have already called for Rylan and Emma to be made permanent presenters following Holly Willoughby’s dramatic departure.
One wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘This morning is so much better with Emma and Rylan presenting together! They need to be the permanent presenters from now on pls’
Another said: ‘Rylan & Emma are the perfect hosts of #ThisMorning’
While a third added: ‘Please can we have Rylan and Emma Willis on permanently’
It comes after Rylan was tipped as the bookies favorite to replace Phillip Schofield and land a permanent stint on the show.
William Hill announced that Rylan Clark has 5/4 odds to take over from Phillip Schofield and more recently Holly Willoughby who left the show amid shocking kidnap and murder threats.
