ITV’s This Morning is facing ‘the end of an era’ (Picture: Ken McKay/ ITV/ Shutterstock)
This Morning is set to undergo a ‘major overhaul’ next year following the exit of editor Martin Frizell.
After a decade at ITV, it was announced yesterday Martin would be leaving the broadcaster as he ‘expects his family priorities to change’ in 2015.
Martin, whose wife Fiona Phillips was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2022, first joined ITV in 2014 as an editor for Loose Women before taking over at the flagship breakfast programme.
His replacement is yet to be announced however it’s now being reported the show – which is now hosted by Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley – could be facing a ‘shake-up’ in the presenting line-up.
It comes after long-time hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby left the show last year, with a source saying this was ‘really the end of an era for daytime telly’ and that ‘huge changes’ were afoot.
‘The show has never truly recovered from Holly and Phil’s departure, and this is a chance to move on from the old guard and bring in fresh faces to detoxify the brand once and for all,’ they said.
Editor Martin Frizell, whose wife is Fiona Phillips, announced this week he was stepping down (Picture: Dave Hogan/ Getty Images)
‘Whilst Cat and Ben are hugely talented and accomplished broadcasters, the reality is their chemistry simply hasn’t replicated that of Holly and Phillip in their prime.
‘The hope is that a few tweaks here and there can make a huge difference – with presenters added to the roster, and a few exciting new features,’ the source added when speaking to The Sun.
They went on to claim that Martin was ‘mercurial and merciless when he was angry’ and some of his staff were ‘pretty scared’ of him.
However, they added he was also ‘hugely talented, hands-on, hard-working, and dedicated to the running of that ship’.
Although ITV is expected to externally advertise the role, which comes with a pay day of £155,000, current Associate Editor Vivek Sharma is ‘heavily tipped to land the coveted gig’.
The show, which is currently hosted by Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, could be facing a presenter shake-up (Picture: Ken McKay/ ITV/ Shutterstock)
The publication reported that Vivek is a ‘shoo-in’ and was exactly what was needed to ‘freshen up and engage’ the long-running series with younger generations.
The editor previously produced Steph’s Packed Lunch on Channel 4 and Piers Morgan’s Uncensored.
When announcing his resignation yesterday Martin said he ‘wouldn’t be able’ to balance the demands of his job with his family commitments.
‘I love my team at ITV and will miss them, and the thrill of live telly, but it’s an always on, 24 hours a day, seven days a week commitment, and I won’t be able to do both,’ he wrote.
Describing the past decade as a ‘privilege’, Martin said the show was the ‘toughest test’ for anyone working in the media, but that …read more
Source:: Metro
