I do wonder if it’s the case of Dermot & Alison getting the Friday gig in the holidays on a regular basis and The Mirror is just jumping to this concussion. I could see someone like Channel 5 trying to sign up Eamon and Ruth for some kind of This Morning rival, but given the success of The Steph Show I think that might be less likely than it might have been a year ago.
It does make me think that ITV are eyeing Dermot as a potential replacement for Phil in the future. Getting him and Alison on Fridays means viewers can get used to them.
If you read the article, you can see that The Sun actually got the story from The Mirror.
That's clickbait for you. Rivals don't even try to add anything to the story now, never mind check if it is true.
I do think it is probably right for the show to move them on now - they need to begin looking to the future and if Phil and/or Holly were to quit anytime soon Eamonn and Ruth would be unlikely to be chosen to replace them, although useful to have in their back pocket if it goes the way it did when Richard and Judy left.
I'd argue though it would be better for Eamonn and Ruth to remain on Fridays and Alison and Dermot to do the holidays.
If true, this is an absolutely disgraceful move by ITV. Eamonn and Ruth have been loyal to This Morning for years. As much as I enjoy Phillip and Holly, Eamonn an Ruth offer up a completely different presenting style, which is refreshing for a Friday.
Quite frankly, the last time Alison and Dermot presented it was a car crash. Alison is good in her own segments, but Dermot doesn't really suit the programme.
Expect the viewing figures to drop like a sack of potatoes on Fridays.
I wonder if this could be Dancing On Ice related? ITV may be concerned with Phil and Holly working across two shows at once and might either take them off This Morning during the run or perhaps reducing their week to allow a buffer between the shows for testing. With this, Eamonn and Ruth may take the lead with the need for replacements for Friday.
I wouldn't be surprised if the producers of ITV want to kill two birds with one stone. Making Fridays more younger skewing but also showing a commitment to diversity with having Alison as one of the main presenters.
I wouldn't be surprised if the producers of ITV want to kill two birds with one stone. Making Fridays more younger skewing but also showing a commitment to diversity with having Alison as one of the main presenters.
If this is down to a diversity drive, I honestly hope Eamonn and Ruth take legal action against ITV. Alison Hammond is a good presenter, but she shouldn't be getting the job because of her skin colour and, likewise, E & R shouldn't be dropped because of theirs'.
Eamonn and Ruth are naturals in front of the camera and could easily present the show without an autocue. The same can't be said for others.
If this is down to a diversity drive, I honestly hope Eamonn and Ruth take legal action against ITV. Alison Hammond is a good presenter, but she shouldn't be getting the job because of her skin colour and, likewise, E & R shouldn't be dropped because of theirs'.
Eamonn and Ruth are naturals in front of the camera and could easily present the show without an autocue. The same can't be said for others.
I don't think Eamonn and Ruth would have a legal leg to stand on if they did that. Television is full of examples of where an older presenter is replaced by a younger one like Alesha Dixon replacing Arlene Phillips, Fiona Bruce replacing Michael Aspel etc