Yahoo News I'm A Celeb's winner Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott could be ‘next Richard and Judy’
Could the TV couple replace Holly Willoughby on This Morning?
I’m A Celebrity winner’s Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott have been tipped to be the next Richard and Judy, according to a PR expert.
Ahead of Thompson’s win, Entertainment and TV PR of Press Box Lynn Carratt has predicted the reality TV couple’s potential for success as a duo. She told Yahoo: "Sam could also join forces with his girlfriend, Zara McDermott, to form a presenting duo."
The Entertainment and TV guru had predicted Thompson could look to bank as much as £1m after winning I'm A Celebrity. Of his partnership potential with his girlfriend, the PR mastermind added: "Zara, who as well as appearing as a contestant on this year's Strictly, is currently making a name for herself as a documentary presenter. Who knows, the pair could be the next Richard and Judy in the making and end up presenting This Morning - who we know are on the lookout for new hosts."
Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan are one of the most successful and most talked about couples in the British TV world. They make a great team on TV and they were the original presenting duo on This Morning from its beginning in 1998 until 2001. This Morning was a great springboard for them as they then fronted their own chat show Richard and Judy for eight years from 2001 and the rest is history.
Who will replace Holly Willoughby?
Now This Morning is looking for fresh blood, Thompson and McDermott could be the ones for the job. Since winning the jungle, Thompson has been heavily favourite to be a guest host or a permanent host on This Morning as TV bosses continue their search to replace Holly Willoughby. At the time of Willoughby's dramatic exit, only five months had passed since her longtime colleague Phillip Schofield stepped down from his role following his affair with a much younger male colleague.
So far, a rotation of celebrity presenters have been trialled on the daytime show This Morning but no further news has been announced about a permanent star of the show. This has left the door wide open for a potential outsider like Thompson to take over.
Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: "Sam Thompson’s reign as King of the Jungle may still be in its infancy, but we’re already looking ahead to what lies in store next for the Made in Chelsea star. Sam is heavily fancied at 4/6 to appear as a host on ITV’s This Morning between now and the end of next year."
Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott
Thompson and McDermott went public with their romance in May 2019 and they have gone from strength to strength since. The idea of the couple presenting together certainly will have crossed their minds at some point because they have a history of working together on TV.
Previously McDermott joined forces with her love to film the fly-on-the-wall reality series that made Thompson famous, Made In Chelsea. When McDermott’s cheating scandal came to light, the emotional fallout played out on the Made In Chelsea cameras.
Since quitting the show, the couple have continued to chase their dreams of a TV career in the spotlight. And this winter gave a real boost to their profiles with them both securing huge gigs on reality TV shows and fan favourites - Strictly Come Dancing and I'm A Celebrity.
It is no secret that they have juggled their romance in the spotlight with their busy TV schedules this winter. The couple have been very supportive to each other, with Thompson flying out to Australia for I’m A Celebrity for three weeks while McDermott was doing gruelling training for Strictly Come Dancing.
Thompson won over the nation with his loveable nature, unstoppable energy and enthusiasm as well as his total honesty about his ADHD diagnosis. Quickly he became the frontrunner to win the show and everyone leaving the jungle said they wanted to see him crowned King of the Jungle.
While McDermott had less luck with her time on Strictly Come Dancing, she was likeable. She was eliminated in Halloween week alongside her partner Graziano "Gratz" Di Prima. "Over the course of the past few months, I fell in love with dancing, even though I know I'm not the best at it," she wrote of her experience on Strictly. She proved her determination to continue, saying: "As soon as our journey on Strictly was over, I knew it was something that we shouldn't just put on a shelf. Why not carry on dancing?"
And while McDermott was unable to fly out to Australia, she was supporting Thompson's stint on I'm A Celebrity back at home in the UK alongside his family. Thompson was in tears over her reaction to his win - as well as his family and friends. It was his best friend Pete Wicks who was on the bridge to greet him at the end of the show.
Starting a family
It seems McDermott and Thompson are both keen to develop their TV careers. In the jungle, Thompson dropped a huge hint when he explained why he wasn't rushing McDermott to have a baby just yet.
In conversation with Josie Gibson, he said: "Thanks, Jose. It's kind of tough to explain this, a lot of people- you not included - a lot of guys who are like, "Mate, you need to have kids, you need to have kids," but my circumstances are different to yours."
He added: "My girlfriend, and I would never want to take this away from her, is doing so well. I know she doesn't want to give that up. And she shouldn't have to. There will come a time where we'll both be like, "Yeah, now's the time" but I just don't think it's now."
