Although ITV has not officially named Ben Shephard as Phillip Schofield‘s replacement on This Morning, Susanna Reid may have just confirmed it.
Since Phillip, 61, left the show he co-hosted for years with Holly Willoughby, 42, speculation has been rife as to who will take his place.
Since then, Holly has co-hosted with a variety of celebrities, including new Great British Bake Off host Alison Hammond, 48, but the broadcaster has yet to fill the post on a regular basis.
It was recently claimed that Ben, 48, from Good Morning Britain, will be the lucky winner.
Susanna appeared to hint on Monday’s GMB that this was really the case.
During the show, they welcomed Coleen Nolan to speak about her family, her health and her dating life, with Susanna joking that Coleen, 58, had ‘defected from Loose Women’.
‘Is it in revenge for This Morning nicking Ben Shephard?’ she then quipped.
An ITV spokesperson said: ‘Ben is a much loved and popular presenter on ITV but no such decisions have been made.’
Sources previously claimed that Ben impressed ITV bosses when he presented with Holly, with those in charge ‘loving’ the partnership and receiving ‘great feedback from many avenues’.
‘Ben is known throughout ITV as being very popular with the audiences of whatever shows he hosts,’ they told MailOnline.
‘He is also trusted by the public and is much loved within ITV. He has hosted so many shows for the channel. He and Holly go back years too – he presented on This Morning some years ago and they have a great rapport.’
Despite a representative confirmed that the broadcaster admires Ben as a “popular” presenter, ITV claimed that “no decisions have been made.”
According to a source, Ben was ‘torn’ between GMB and This Morning since, while they are on the same channel, they are also rivals.
Phillip resigned from This Morning and ITV earlier this year after confessing to lying about having an affair with a younger runner on the show, characterising their previous connection as “unwise but not illegal.”
Ben, Alison, Josie Gibson, and Andi Peters have all stepped in for Holly on a temporary basis.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV. This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.
