Ben & kate: this morning’s new holly & phil?

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Ben & Kate: This Morning’s new Holly & Phil?

The GMB stars are being eyed to take on ITV’s beleaguered show

Holly Willoughby’s shock exit from This Morning, just five months after her co-host Phillip Schofield’s resignation, has left the show in turmoil, with telly bosses now scrambling to find a suitable pairing to take over.

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Fan favourite Ben Shephard and his Good Morning Britain co-presenter Kate Garraway are reported to be the frontrunners to take over as full-time hosts of ITV’s flagship daytime programme, which is currently being presented by a rotating schedule of stars including Alison Hammond, Josie Gibson and Dermot O’Leary. “Ben and Kate are adored by the public when they host together. Fans love them,” a This Morning source revealed. “While the bosses love Alison Hammond and Josie Gibson, they know they need someone more heavyweight. Kate is a journalist yet is also funny and warm.”

**Could Emma and Matt Willis be in the running?**

Best friends who have worked together since their GMTV days 20 years ago, Ben, 48, and Kate, 56, are an obvious choice because of their sparkling chemistry. Ben was a hit with viewers when he hosted This Morning last month with Holly, and is a favourite with bosses because of the familiarity he brings. Could a partnership with

**Are Rochelle and Marvin the next** **Richard and Judy?**

Kate be the star booking ITV are hoping for? “We’ve shared an awful lot, Kate and I,” Ben said. “We were working together on the sofa from 2003 so we went through childbirth and marriage together.” Kate hailed his loyal friendship and unwavering support, particularly as her husband Derek Draper battled COVID. “For 20 years, Ben has had to do so much for me. He has been amazing,” she added.

But while Kate and Ben are a popular pairing, they could be battling it out with real life married couples such as Rochelle and Marvin Humes, Emma and Matt Willis, Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty and Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch are also in the frame to take over, as bosses consider finding the next “Richard and Judy” in This Morning’s new chapter.

Famous faces such as Davina McCall, Amanda Holden and Graham Norton are also being considered, alongside new talent. Bookmakers reckon Marvin and Rochelle, who present music quiz show The Hit List together, are top favourites at odds of 2/1, followed by Emma and Matt. “Bosses are keen to get it right so there will be no knee-jerk decisions. It’s about making the right call on which duo have the right chemistry to take the show through to the next era of its 35-year run,” the source said.

This Morning’s bosses are planning to give the show a “complete revamp” next year, in