ALISON Hammond is reportedly being lined up to replace Holly Willoughby if she leaves This Morning.
ITV bosses are said to be looking at their options if Holly, 42, decides not to renew her contact – and Alison, 48, is their top pick.
A source told the Mirror: “ITV bosses are clear they want Holly to return to This Morning next year. But while a question mark hangs over her future, there have been conversations about who could step in if she decided to go.
“Top of that list is Alison. She has gone from being seen as a safe pair of hands to a real asset to the channel.”
Alison currently hosts Fridays alongside Dermot O’Leary but reportedly could be paired with others, including Josie Gibson.
An ITV spokesperson said: “We don’t comment on speculation around artists’ contracts”.
While a show source added: “Both Holly and Alison are much loved, respected and valued members of the This Morning family and have been so for over 14 and 20 years respectively.
“Both women very much enjoy working with each other on the show and are friends outside of the show also.”
Holly has presented the daytime show since 2009 with Phillip Schofield, but her latest contract ends in December.
Discussions are said to have usually started by now, but insiders insist there is hesitation over what her plans will be.
It follows a tough year for Holly who faced public backlash over footage she skipped the queue to see the Queen lying in state.
A petition was launched to have Holly and her co-host Phillip Schofield sacked.
But the pair were backed by bosses who insisted they’d done nothing wrong.
