Yahoo News Who will replace Holly Willoughby on This Morning?
Cat Deeley now lead the stars in the running to replace Holly Willoughby
Everyone has been wondering who will replace Holly Willoughby after she quit This Morning after 14 years?
She resigned just days after Willoughby faced an alleged kidnap plot and she was left fearing for her family’s safety.
New names are being thrown into the mix for who could be taking over from Cat Deeley to Sarah Ferguson.
Holly Willoughby leaves This Morning
Mum-of-three Willoughby’s emotional statement in full revealed her reasoning behind leaving the This Morning sofa and ITV shared their support for the star.
Only five months ago, her longtime co-star Phillip Schofield stepped down from his presenting job following an “unwise but not illegal” dalliance with a younger male colleague.
After Schofield’s dramatic exit, there has been a rotating roster of presenters working alongside Willoughby.
Former best friends Willoughby and Schofield weathered a turbulent year of scandals on This Morning before both of their shock departures within months of each other.
For instance, together they battled the "Queue-gate" storm after the presenting pair were accused of skipping the queue to visit Queen Elizabeth II’s lying in state — while others waited patiently in line, including David Beckham.
Who will replace Holly Willoughby?
Despite the scandals — Willoughby has been the darling of daytime TV for more than a decade, much-loved by viewers for her bubbly personality and infectious laughter with a huge 8.5million following on Instagram.
The 42-year-old presenter became a huge part of the show as we know it, making her first fresh-faced appearance in September 2009 aged 28.
The power she wields in the showbiz circles is no secret, with many of her outfits selling out soon after she would debut them on TV.
Willoughby has left big stilettos to fill which begs the question: who will be up for the job?
ITV has yet to announce who will be permanently taking over so we take a look at the stars in the running for the permanent position.
Latest odds to replace Holly Willoughby as permanent host
According to bookies William Hill, these are the most likely Willoughby replacements:
Cat Deeley 1/5
Abbey Clancy 2/1
Alison Hammond 3/1
Storm Huntley 5/1
Josie Gibson 6/1
Hannah Waddingham 7/1
Rochelle Humes 10/1
Davina McCall 16/1
Maya Jama, Susanna Reid, Charlotte Hawkins, Laura Whitmore, Lorraine Kelly, Denise Van Outen, Kate Garraway 20/1
Maura Higgins 25/1
Amber Davies, Laura Tobin 33/1
Cat Deeley
Cat Deeley is the current bookies' favourite after a hugely successful guest presenting stint on the show.
Viewers loved her partnership with Rylan and her natural style in putting guests at ease.
Could she be looking for a more permanent position on the show?
Sarah Ferguson
The Duchess has also been tipped to be in the running to present on This Morning.
She completed an episode as guest editor and presenter alongside Hammond and O'Leary, but drew mixed reviews over her "awkward" appearance.
Recently, she impressed everyone with her open and honest appearance on Loose Women where she discussed her breast cancer journey.
Rylan Clark
Clark has been appearing on This Morning on and off for years and recently wowed viewers with a stint that saw him co-hosting with Josie Gibson.
Bookmaker William Hill is giving him odds of 5/4 to take over the slot, making him the current favourite.
And it seems fans would be thrilled, with many posting on social media that he was "brilliant" and "a breath of fresh air" on the programme.
"Would love to see you as a permanent presenter, it's been a lovely week watching on This Morning again," one said on X.
"Please make Rylan permanent!" urged someone else.
The star has all sorts of TV experience, with shows such as Big Brother's Bit On The Side, It Takes Two and Eurovision under his belt.
Stephen Mulhern
Mulhern is loved by TV viewers thanks to shows like Saturday Night Takeaway, In For A Penny and Catchphrase.
It's thought by many that he could take over on Dancing On Ice, which Schofield hosted with Willoughby for years.
But there is also chatter about him being a possible for the This Morning sofa.
His odds are currently 10/1.
Richard Madeley
Madeley is keeping pretty busy over on Good Morning Britain.
He has been a regular on the ITV show following the exit of Piers Morgan back in 2021.
But of course, he actually made his name on This Morning, which he fronted with his wife Judy Finnigan for years.
They hosted the programme from 1988 to 2001 and many consider it to have been the show's golden era.
After leaving, the pair moved on to their own show, Richard & Judy, but it seems some fans would like to see Madeley back where it all began.
The TV star currently has odds of 14/1.
Alison Hammond
Alison Hammond, who found fame on Big Brother, is a big name in showbiz right now — she’s on our screens every week with Great British Bake Off and This Morning.
Instantly becoming a hit hosting Great British Bake Off, Hammond has dazzled everyone with her charm and wit alongside the cheeky Noel Fielding.
Already part of the ITV family, Hammond hosts This Morning every Friday alongside Dermot O’Leary.
With her popularity, she would be a natural choice to take on more days with This Morning.
Josie Gibson
Often Gibson, who also found fame on Big Brother, has been hosting This Morning alongside Willoughby since Schofield stepped down.
So it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the former Big Brother star secured the permanent position.
Of course she has had ties with the ITV show for some time, having first joined This Morning as a competition announcer in 2019.
The TV star first started presenting the main show on the occasion in 2021 when she first filled in as last minute cover for Willoughby.
After that, she was tasked with presenting holiday cover for the other stars.
Dermot O’Leary
Dermot O’Leary first made an appearance on This Morning to fill in for Schofield when he was ill in 2014.
In 2020, the TV star landed a permanent role alongside Hammond presenting This Morning every Friday.
The presenting duo took over when Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes were sensationally dropped from the show after 14 years which certainly left fans divided at the time.
However, O’Leary and Hammond quickly became fan favourites with their fun-filled presenting slot on a Friday.
William Hill gives his current odds as 3/1.
Rochelle Humes
Rochelle Humes has been part of the This Morning family for years and could be in the running for the top job.
Back in 2018, Willoughby flew out to Oz to present I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here for a once in a lifetime opportunity alongside Declan Donnelly when Ant McPartlin took a break from the show.
While Willoughby was filming Down Under, Humes replaced her and took the helm alongside Schofield on This Morning between November and December.
From 2018, Humes has been a regular guest host on the show and was a good choice for her replacement at the time.
She first appeared on This Morning in 2013 with her husband Marvin Humes, with whom she presents their music quiz show The Hit List.
They would regularly stand in for presenters together but now Humes works alongside a co-star.
Marvin Humes
Rochelle's husband Humes is also thought to be a contender for the position.
He found fame in JLS and has a huge fanbase, both as a music star and as Rochelle's husband.
Plus he also has TV experience, having been a host on shows like The Hit List, The Voice UK and of course, Children In Need.
Some fans think the couple could be a great presenting team, and he currently has odds of 5/1.
Craig Doyle
Like Gibson, Craig Doyle first appeared on the ITV show to present the competitions.
His role on the ITV show has blossomed and more recently he has taken on more presenting responsibility.
At first he made a few guest presenter appearances with Alison Hammond last year which has since become a more regular occurrence.
Then the star took on the presenting reigns alongside Gibson, Mollie King and Rochelle Humes over the summer holidays last year.
