ITV responds after claims This Morning’s Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley are to be replaced

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ITV has addressed reports suggesting that Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard might be replaced as the hosts of This Morning.

Tess Daly and Vernon Kay are expected to take over hosting duties, following reports that show officials were impressed with their recent appearance co-hosting The One Show.

A source claimed to The Sun that ITV are looking for the next “Richard and Judy”.

ITV has dismissed reports of presenter changes on This Morning. A channel spokesperson stated they are pleased with the current lead presenters – Cat, Ben, Alison, and Dermot – and have no plans to replace them.

The show is starting 2026 strong, with higher viewership compared to last year and an average of 3.7 million weekly viewers.

TopMob understands that reports on Daly and Kay replacing Deeley and Shephard are untrue.

Vernon Kay has enjoyed filling in as a host on This Morning, but he isn’t leaving his job at BBC Radio 2. He’s been hosting the show since 2023, when he replaced Ken Bruce.

A representative for the presenter said there’s no basis to recent rumors. Vernon Kay is content and dedicated to his show on BBC Radio 2.

The rumors started after Tess Daly announced she was leaving her position as host of Strictly Come Dancing, a job she’d held for two decades.

In October 2025, it was announced that she and Claudia Winkleman would be leaving the BBC dance show. They shared a statement on Instagram calling their experience on the series “an absolute dream.”

So, the show’s still keeping us guessing about who will fill Tess and Claudia’s shoes, but the rumor mill is working overtime! I’m hearing names like Mel Giedroyc, Emma Willis, and Zoe Ball – and honestly, Zoe feels like a pretty safe bet considering her history with Strictly Come Dancing. We’ll have to wait and see, but those are the frontrunners right now.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, the previous host of It Takes Two admitted she’d be interested in the job again, but will remain a viewer no matter who takes over.

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Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

I really enjoy following Katelyn Mensah’s work at TopMob. She’s the Senior Entertainment Writer there and keeps me up-to-date on everything – from the biggest shows and reality TV to really impactful documentaries. Before TopMob, she was writing about reality TV and celebrity news at The Tab, and she has a journalism degree, so she definitely knows her stuff!

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2026-03-09 19:34