By Katie Hind, Consultant Editor Showbusiness
11:44 17 Jan 2024, updated 12:02 17 Jan 2024
This Morning’s showbiz reporter Sian Welby will host the show next week as they continue to search for a replacement for Holly Willoughby.
ITV bosses are said to be impressed with Ms Welby after a number of appearances on the programme and have paired her with Dermot O’Leary to anchor Monday to Thursday.
Sources at the network say that Ms Welby, 37, is a ‘rising star’ and want to give her a chance to show if she can present the daytime show.
One told MailOnline: ‘Sian has many years of presenting experience under her belt, she is very much ear marked as being a star of the future.
‘She has done really well already on This Morning so the bosses thought it was time to give her the reins to the whole show rather than just segments.’
They continued: ‘Viewers love a new, fresh face on the show so everyone involved in it is really excited.’
Ms Welby hosts Capital Breakfast alongside Roman Kemp and is also a regular reporter for This Morning.
She and O’Leary will be joined in the studio by Hollywood stars Kevin Hart and Gugu Mbatha Raw to chat about the new action packed heist film LIFT, as well as catching up with comedian and former Strictly winner, Bill Bailey.
Alison Hammond and O’Leary will continue to host their as usual Friday slot.
Ms Welby is the former anchor of Channel 5 News after being spotted by chiefs at the broadcaster in 2010.
She also hosted a show on Heart Radio between 2017 and 2020.
Ms Welby’s role on This Morning comes three months after Ms Willoughby quit after 14 years at the helm of This Morning after an alleged kidnap plot was revealed.
Former security guard Gavin Plumb has also been accused of incitement to murder her. Since then, ITV bosses have been searching for a replacement for her.
They were left ‘gutted’ last month when Cat Deeley ruled herself out of the role after signing for US talent show, So Yoi Think You Can Dance.
Chiefs also had their eye on The Voice presenter Emma Willis but she is understood to have turned down the job as she can’t commit to three days.
Christine Lampard was also said to not be keen on working four days a week.
I’m A Celeb star Josie Gibson has been hosting the show for the last two weeks.
Since leaving This Morning, it’s been claimed Ms Willoughby is ‘overhauling her demure Queen of daytime TV image’.
She currently fronts Dancing On Ice, which suffered its lowest ever viewing figures as host Holly made her TV comeback.
The Sunday night show, which saw stars including Amber Davies and Ricky Hatton take to the ice, had a launch viewing figure of just 3.6 million.
In comparison the launch was watched by 4.1 million in 2023 and 4.3 million in 2022. 2021’s opening show saw 5.4 million tuning in while 2020’s figure was 5.1 million.
The programme also reunited the TV star with Stephen Mulhern, who has replaced Phillip Schofield as host of the skating show.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
