Kerry Katona has endorsed Rylan Clark and Amanda Holden to host This Morning, while urging Holly Willoughby to leave the ITV show.
The Atomic Kitten singer, 42, recently revealed that serving as a guest on the ITV programme left her feeling’suicidal,’ and she criticised the network for having a ‘toxic’ atmosphere.
She has now added to her thoughts on the long-running programme, which saw its presenter, Phillip Schofield, 61, resign after admitting to a ‘unwise but not criminal’ romance with a younger runner.
Holly, 42, has been co-hosting This Morning with stand-ins Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle since returning on Monday after the romance was made public with a widely criticised speech.
Kerry, on the other hand, believes it is time for the Dancing On Ice host to step down, blaming the show for being ‘tarnished and contaminated’ and calling for a’revamp.’
She told OK Magazine: ‘I’d have more respect for [Holly] if she left This Morning and Dancing on Ice and said, “Do you know what, it’s time for me to walk away”.
‘I have nothing against her at all, but as a viewer, I just don’t think it’s working anymore. If it was up to me, I’d like Amanda Holden and Rylan Clark to present it.’
Kerry also commented on Holly’s ITV statement, which began with ‘are you OK?’ and has been compared to Jennifer Aniston‘s role on The Morning Show.
She said: ‘I thought Holly’s speech about Phil on This Morning was an absolute load of sh*te. It was awful. It was so staged, so rehearsed, so heartless, so soulless. It was absolutely dreadful, honestly.
‘People want realness. They want someone they can relate to.’
Kerry is one of several celebrities who have called This Morning ‘poison,’ including Eamonn Holmes and Dr Ranj Singh.
This Morning editor Martin Frizell was chastised earlier this month for his remark when asked if the workplace at This Morning is “toxic.”
While being contacted by Sky News ahead of Holly Willoughby‘s comeback to the show, he replied: ‘I’ll tell you what’s poisonous and I’ve always thought it toxic. Aubergine.
‘Do you like aubergine? Do you? Do you like aubergine because I don’t like aubergine. It’s just a personal thing.’
A thorough inquiry into the charges of ‘toxicity’ at ITV and the circumstances behind Phillip’s departure is currently underway.
Frizell has confirmed that the investigation’s conclusions would be made public.
MPs will interview executive Dame Carolyn McCall later this month.
ITV has long denied knowing of Phillip’s affair, claiming that an initial inquiry was carried out in 2020 but that no proof was discovered.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.
