Alison Hammond says she 'still needs to bond' with This Morning co-host Dermot O'Leary

This Morning host Alison Hammond joked that she "still needs to bond" with her new co-host Dermot O'Leary on Friday's show.

They interviewed choreographer Lizzie Gee and her son Rufus, eight, who took up tap dancing in lockdown and has gone viral along as well as being able to have bond with his mum even further.

"I am actually speechless at how good at tap dancing you are, because I actually did tap dancing when I was a kid," said Alison.

"It's just a really nice thing to do isn't it, to bond? And I feel like me and Dermot, we still need to bond," she said, as Dermot burst out laughing.

"So I was wondering if you have any moves to teach Dermot, obviously I am a grade A tap dancer!" Alison added, before Lizzie and Rufus taught the presenters a move called the paddle.

Alison joked she and Dermot have not bonded yet (ITV)

Since Alison and Dermot started hosting This Morning in January, replacing Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, they have proved incredibly popular with viewers.

Their episodes have averaged 1.3million viewers and got 21% of the available TV audience.

Many loyal fans threatened to boycott the show after the Mirror revealed Eamonn and Ruth were being dropped from their regular presenting slot after 14 years.

Alison and Dermot spoke to a tap dancing mum and son who taught them a dance move (ITV)

But in the event, more viewers were tempted to tune in – and they seem to like what they see.

Mum-of-one Alison, 45, has been involved with This Morning for years as a roving reporter and is a firm favourite with most fans.

She and O’Leary have previously been paired as stand-in presenters and bosses were impressed by their chemistry.

But Alison was given duty-of-care counselling by ITV after facing a backlash from trolls.

Eamonn and wife Ruth Langsford were abruptly ditched from This Morning at the end of 2020 (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

In December, the former Big Brother contestant hinted at her struggle, sharing an Instagram post that read: “Strong people don’t put others down.”

Alison declared it had been “an honour” to work with Eamonn and Ruth over the years, along with main presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.

She told the show’s fans: “I hope I can make you all proud! I’m thrilled to have been given this incredible opportunity.”

* This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am