For pity’s sake, don’t inform Piers Morgan – however ITV chiefs are in ‘despair’ over their failure to discover a man to step into his footwear completely on Good Morning Britain.
Hoping to recapture Morgan’s recognition with viewers and his chemistry with co-host Susanna Reid, GMB bosses have spent months testing out a collection of candidates together with Richard Madeley, cash knowledgeable Martin Lewis, comic Adil Ray, Tony Blair’s former spin physician Alastair Campbell and former Labour Minister Ed Balls.
However The Mail on Sunday understands none was deemed an appropriate everlasting substitute, and with long-serving GMB presenter Ben Shepherd on air for under a few days per week, bosses have given up their search and can as an alternative rotate male stand-in hosts.
ITV bosses have given up their search and can as an alternative rotate male stand-in hosts
The fruitless hunt will little doubt delight Morgan. However it’s thought to have dismayed ITV, which is pleased with feminine presenters together with Ms Reid, Kate Garraway, Ranvir Singh, Laura Tobin and Charlotte Hawkins.
Head-hunters additionally concern some skilled presenters didn’t put themselves ahead as a result of they’re mates with Morgan.
A supply stated: ‘Changing Piers was at all times going to be robust, however nobody thought that just about a 12 months on they nonetheless wouldn’t have discovered anybody. It is among the largest exhibits on TV, so it actually shouldn’t have been this tough.
‘It didn’t happen to bosses that most of the large presenters would rule themselves out as a result of they’re mates with Piers. He’s a really loyal man and that loyalty is reciprocated. It’s a actual headache.’
Morgan, 56, left GMB final March after refusing to apologise for feedback he made concerning the Duchess of Sussex’s psychological well being.
The previous MoS columnist’s outburst prompted a file 58,000 complaints to Ofcom, which cleared the broadcaster.
Final night time, an ITV spokesman stated: ‘Good Morning Britain is an award successful breakfast present with nice journalism at its core and a brilliantly gifted crew each on and off display screen who all play an element in its continued success.
‘The present is performing effectively with the roster of visitor hosts alongside our current household of presenters and there are not any present plans to alter this.’
