Amanda Holden has addressed the rumours that she is set to take over from Cat Deeley on This Morning.
Cat, 57, and Ben Shepard, 49, replaced Holly Willoughby, 43, and Phillip Schofield, 62, in March after the presenters’ departure from the ITV programme.
The new hosts have faced a mixed reaction from people at home, reportedly garnering less than 700,000 viewers for one episode in September.
There has been speculation that Amanda – who filled in for Holly during her maternity leave and appeared on the show from 2014 to 2019 – might take over.
However, the Britain’s Got Talent judge, 53, shut down the gossip on her Heart Breakfast with Jason King and Amanda Holden show on Thursday.
Amanda Holden shut down rumours that she’s set to replace Cat Deeley on This Morning
Cat and Ben Shepard took over from Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield earlier this year
Amanda, who is in for Jamie Theakston, addressed the hearsay during a chat with Ashley Roberts.
‘I saw this morning some rumours stirring about you replacing Cat Deeley on This Morning. What’s the tea?’ Ashley asked.
‘Oh, well, do you know what? I’m really glad you’ve asked me this. First of all, I absolutely love Cat Deeley,’ Amanda said.
‘She’s super successful, I’ve always admired her, she’s brilliant, and she’s a real laugh. I hate seeing headlines that say, “I’m taking over from Cat Deeley” when I think she’s doing such a good job on This Morning.’
TV personality added that she believes Cat is ‘going nowhere’.
Amanda went on: ‘Complete rumours! I’m already on the biggest morning show in the country, and that is Heart Breakfast, thanks to our lovely listeners.
‘So, I don’t know where it’s come from it is categorically not true.’
Ashley reaffirmed Amanda’s point, saying: ‘Not true, you heard it here!’
Amanda called the speculation ‘categorically untrue’ on her Heart radio breakfast show
The TV personality said Cat is ‘brilliant’ and is ‘going nowhere’
Amanda will be back on viewers’ screens as a judge on the 18th season of BGT in early 2025.
She will join fellow judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, and Bruno Tonioli, with KSI serving as a guest judge.
Earlier this month it was reported that show bosses are said to have pulled the plug on hosting the auditions in the London Palladium and they will now all be held in Blackpool instead.
According to The Sun, bosses decided to change the location because they found the atmosphere in the seaside town to be so enthusiastic for the show.
Holly and Phillip left the ITV show last year following a scandal surrounding Phillip
Amanda is returning as a judge on the newest season of Britain’s Got Talent (pictured with Ant McPartlin, guest judge KSI, Alesha Dixon, Simon Cowell and Declan Donnelly)
A source said: ‘BGT is a show that hangs on the audience and how they react — and basically the crowd in Blackpool are absolutely brilliant.
‘The Palladium is such an iconic venue but if you compare the shows in Blackpool to the ones they have filmed in London, the audience is way more up for it there.
‘Boss Simon Cowell has given the green light to the move and just wants the show to be the best it can be.’
The insider added that Amanda may not be happy with the change, as she works five days a week in London and will have to commute.
The rest of the auditions are due to be filmed in the New Year.
Listen to Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden weekdays from 06:30 to 10:00am across the UK and on Global Player
