This Morning

They have such different fanbases. People either hate Ruth and Eamonn or hate Holly & Phil. Such a harsh split probably doesn't help the programme.

I'm surprised Channel 5 haven't snapped up Ruth and Eamonn for their own This Morning copycat, or a One Show-esq evening programme.

With the two duos, you have the post 2009 younger skewed format, while Friday seems to be a more traditional This Morning format for older viewers who have grown up with the show.

Personally I find the Friday edition more tolerable.

It'd be a huge mistake on Eamonn and Ruth's part to do a show that competes against either show and 5 have learnt that the hard way with Terry and Gabby, Trisha Goddard and Live from Studio Five that competing against a similar show never works. Not to mention Do the Right Thing failed miserably and that was in primetime.

I think Eamonn and Ruth have found the right balance of doing This Morning on Fridays and holidays, then doing other projects on the sideline like the Channel 5 shows, Eamonn having a daily show on Talk Radio, covering on GMB etc and Ruth does Loose Women and QVC. I can't imagine them leaving This Morning unless they decide to quit or if ITV wants a complete revamp when Holly and Phil eventually leave.

Probably more chance of Coleen and Twiggy getting the job than Eamonn and Ruth when Holly and Phil leave.

Eamonn and Ruth may end up leaving This Morning long before Holly and Philip leave.

Bear in mind that Eamonn and Ruth are both older than Holly and Philip, and Ruth has been presenting it since 1999, so is the longest serving of all of them.

Based on who's been presenting it the longest, i.e. Phillip and Ruth, if they leave first, it could end up being presented by Eamonn and Holly.

Holly & Phil apparently have a pact that they will leave together. Holly is unambitious and is known as Little Miss No for all the new projects she turns down, and Phil is happy working with her so I think they'll be there for a while yet unless some sort of scandal crops up.

Eamonn and Ruth are sidelined by the powers that be (I assume there's no love lost between Eamonn and Martin Frizzell) but are apparently far more popular with the This Morning 'family' than Holly & Phil. I spoke to someone recently who alleges Holly and Phil waltz in, present the show and disappear straight after the production meeting whereas Eamonn & Ruth have a closer relationship with the team behind the scenes. I can believe that, based on what we see on screen.



With all due respect, Live From Studio Five was rubbish, Terry and Gaby was 15 years ago and I've not even heard of Do The Right Thing so it can't have been well publicised.

The closest comparison to make is Richard & Judy leaving ITV for Channel 4, which worked on the strength of their on screen chemistry and a solid format. It would be a risk for Eamonn & Ruth but Channel 5 has stepped things up a gear in terms of quality. I'm also confident they'd also take some of the TM family with them, they're that well liked.

Ruth said earlier this year she wants to present it for years to come and bear in mind Phil is only 2 years younger than them so it's not a huge gap. Nobody is going anywhere soon.

Would she really be expected to say anything else?

Given that she started presenting it nearly 20 years ago, it would be perfectly reasonable for her to say she was ready to leave the show.

The grass isn't always greener on the other side though.

Still no word on Holly's stand in then - can't be long now till she is off to Australia.

Speaking of stand ins, I wonder who’s covering for half term?

I imagine Holly’s last This Morning before she departs will be November 8th so they’ll likely announce her stand in that week

Do the Eamonn and Ruth editions generally rate higher than when Holly and Phil are presenting, given the times they appear? I.e. half terms and summer, when much of TM’s demographic will be off work looking after children, hence more likely to watch the programme.