Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have made their long-awaited debut as This Morning’s new Friday hosts after replacing Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford.
The duo brushed off the recent fanfare surrounding their new jobs by chatting about Alison’s live karaoke session, while Dermot struggled to hide his disdain as they introduced their first segment about psychic Jemima Packington.
Alison and Dermot landed the permanent Friday slot after Eamonn and Ruth were axed by bosses.
At last! Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have made their long-awaited debut as This Morning’s new Friday hosts after replacing Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford
Dig: Eamonn and Ruth appeared on screen for their last show in December, during which he made a dig about bosses ‘getting rid’ of them
Eamonn and Ruth appeared on screen for their last show in December, during which he made a dig about bosses ‘getting rid’ of them during a chat about discounted trees, before the pair both grew emotional while saying goodbye.
During their sign off, Eamonn said: ‘You won’t be watching us anymore on a Friday, Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary will be here on Fridays here on in.
‘Please we would ask you to be as nice and lovely to them, friends of ours as they are, we’re very close to Alison and she has been to us for the past 15 years.
‘We appreciate all of the love you have sent to us today, we send it all back to you, have a very merry Christmas, it’s been lovely having you and I think we will see everybody again.’
Ruth added: ‘We will see everybody again in February, you’ve haven’t got rid of us, we’re back for the half term. So it’s a tricky year for everybody and we hope we helped you a little bit and thank you, have a merry Christmas see you in February’.
It has recently been claimed that the longtime presenters have reportedly been told to keep quiet about their axing.
Hosting duties: The pair had filled in for Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on Fridays for 15 years
According to sources, the presenters have been advised to not address losing their slot on the ITV programme to avoid missing out on more work opportunities.
A source told The Sun: ‘Ruth and Eamonn are obviously upset and feel humiliated about being put out to pasture.
‘But they’ve been advised to keep schtum or risk losing more work. It could damage their brand if they lash out.’
MailOnline has previously contacted representatives for Eamonn, Ruth and ITV for comment.
Fed up? Eamonn reportedly told friends he was ‘sick of office politics’ ahead of the pair’s last stint as two of the show’s main presenters
Eamonn also took to social media last week to reveal the couple are ‘going to get on with their lives’.
It was previously reported that Alison is in duty of care meetings after racist trolling over her replacing Eamonn and Ruth on This Morning.
The TV presenter is said to be struggling to cope with the ‘vitriol’ she has been receiving online and it has prompted the channel to step in to ensure she is ‘staying positive.’
It was also reported by The Mail On Sunday that Alison previously turned down the presenting job as she feared it would be seen as ‘tokenism.’
Claims: It has recently been claimed that Eamonn and Ruth have reportedly been told to keep quiet about their axing
Friends said the job offer – just two months after the show’s editor Martin Frizell pledged to staff that he would appoint a black presenter – left her feeling ‘uncomfortable.’
According to sources, she was happy to remain in her role as entertainment reporter, but Frizell persuaded her to sign up for the bigger presenting job on the popular show.
‘Alison has been on This Morning for more than a decade and had never been offered this job before,’ said one source.
‘Then Martin makes a big announcement that he wants a black presenter and she is wanted for the role.
‘ITV decided last year they wanted diversity on their programmes and then they decided to offer the presenting job to Alison. If you look up the dictionary definition of what tokenism means, then this is it.
‘Alison was happy as she was, she loved interviewing the likes of George Clooney. She is amazing at it and it was enough for her.’
The 45-year-old also felt torn about replacing Ruth, but was reassured by her close friend that she should take the job and had her blessing.
Job offer: It was also reported by The Mail On Sunday that Alison previously turned down the presenting job as she feared it would be seen as ‘tokenism’ (pictured in March)