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Names in the frame to cover Holly Willoughby on This Morning

Who will (a) be keeping Phil company on the sofa?

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Weekday mornings just aren’t going to be the same when Holly Willoughby heads down under to co-host this year’s I’m a Celebrity alongside Declan Donnelly.

Instagram @hollywilloughby
Phil’s going to have to find himself a new tea-mate (Credit: ITV)

So the big question is, who will be joining Phil on the hallowed This Morning sofa to cover Holly’s absence?

Read more: Uncle Ant sends sweet message to new daddy Dec  

At the moment, the bookies’ favourite is apparently Amanda Holden, with Coral offering odds of 2-1 on her sitting in for Holly at some point during her month long break.

Amanda is no stranger to the This Morning sofa, having co-hosted with Phillip during Holly’s 2014 maternity leave, and also with Rylan and Ben Shephard.

It’s worth noting though, that her previous stints haven’t always gone down well with the viewers – The Sun reported last year that This Morning fans were left ‘unhappy’ to see her fronting the show with Ben. Oh dear!

Amanda is currently the bookies’ fave – if not the viewers (Credit: ITV)

Read more: Phil and Holly reveal they can’t wait to be reunited on the This Morning sofa 

Another name doing the rounds is former Goggle Box star Scarlett Moffatt, who the bookies have put at 8-1 – and it could be argued what she lacks in presenting experience, she certainly makes up for in personality, and is a firm favourite with viewers.

Pick me! Pick me! (Credit: Flynet)

An obvious choice would of course be Ruth Langsford. While she currently attracts odds of 4-1 at the bookmakers, would she want the extra hours, taking into account her existing Friday stints on the show with Eamonn, her Loose Women gig, and her appearances on the shopping channel QVC? Is there enough of her to go round?

Eamonn and Ruth on TM
Ruth already knows the ropes and is at home on the sofa (Credit: ITV)

Caroline Flack’s name has also been suggested, as has Stephen Mulhern’s, while the likes of Mark Wright and Mollie King, Rylan Clark-Neal and Gok Wan – who all stood in for Holly and Phil over their summer break – have also been mentioned.

A spokesperson for Coral bookies told the Mirror that Amanda was the most likely candidate to fill Holly’s stilettos come November though.

Holly and Phil on This Morning
Phil is desp to find out… (Credit: ITV)

“Amanda stepped in for Holly back in 2014 when she was on maternity leave and she’s our favourite to help Phillip once again whilst Holly goes into the jungle,” the spokesman said.

“Mollie (King) is another in the mix and as a hugely popular figure at the moment would certainly go down well with the viewers, whilst we rate the likes of Scarlett, Stephen and Caroline as outsiders for this particular gig.”

Oooh bit harsh!

Guess we’ll just have to wait and see though…

So who would you like to see joining Phillip in Holly’s absence? One of the names mentioned here, or someone else? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know!


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor