Vernon Kay will guest host This Morning while Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield enjoy time away, it has been revealed.
The 47-year-old will be join the show from August 31 for three days and present alongside Rochelle Humes.
The Bolton-born star cut his teeth in the presenting world on Channel 4’s teen-centric show T4 back at the beginning of the century, having previously co-hosted shows on Channel 5 and on the BBC.
And while his presenting slots have been reasonably low key since 2016, the star seems to be gearing up for a new slot in the spotlight on This Morning following his star turn on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2020.
Vernon is being drafted in as a guest presenter on ITV’s flagship daytime TV show from the end of the month to cover while main presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield take a break during the summer holiday period.
Viewers will see Rochelle hosting with Alison Hammond again for a ‘girl power’ Monday before welcoming new guest host Vernon Kay on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
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Rochelle will then reunite with Alison again on Friday while Alison’s regular Friday co-host, Dermot O’Leary, will also host parts of the show live from Manchester.
Vernon told The Sun on Sunday: “To be asked to guest host on a show I’ve watched since its inception is a huge tick for me.”
Sources told the newspaper Vernon's gig is part of a drive to try out new talent on the sofa, The Mirror reports.
Earlier this year, This Morning saw rating hit a high of 19 years – with the new record being set since the series began way back in 1988. The new statistics were revealed as it was reported Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond were being upgraded to regular presenters on Fridays editions of the show – replacing previous end-of-week hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes.
The National Television Awards are due to return to ITV next month – and the ceremony will see 40-year-old Holly and 46-year-old Alison battling it out to be crowned best presenter.
Meanwhile, Holly and Alison have been lifting each other up regarding their exciting nomination news.
Taking to Instagram last week, Alison shared a snap of herself beaming alongside Holly in a sun-kissed photo shared on Instagram Stories – adding the caption: “can’t think of anyone I’d rather lose to that you @hollywilloughby.”
While Holly returned the sentiment by re-gramming Alison’s note – and adding the caption “same” to the post.
And This Morning’s crown maker, Editor Martin Frizell, heaped praise on the women in an Instagram post of his own, writing: “It’s like choosing your favourite child !!! “Both brilliant broadcasters are on the short list today for NTA Presenter of the Year and This Morning is nominated again in Daytime.
“The National TV Awards are the biggest accolades of the year, voted for by viewers not judges and so mean the most to us.”
This Morning’s editor, Martin Frizell said, “This week will provide a great mix of talent for our viewers. Vernon is familiar with being a guest on our sofa but I’m sure he’ll be just as great hosting the show live for two and a half hours too.”
