Last night, on Shaun Attwood’s by the day sky rocketing in viewer numbers YouTube channel, Matthew Steeples returned to chat about the latest developments in the sordid saga of why the “silver soufflé” that is Phillip Schofield has gone from telly-box-treasure to tarnished-turfed-out-trash.

In a week when a February 2020 article from The Steeple Times – titled simply “The Phil & Matt Show” – went viral on our pages and became by far our most read article ever of our thousands of pages of published content since we began in May 2012, it seems that interest in Schofield and his sidekick turned nemesis Holly Willoughby has overtaken that of interest in ‘Wallmart Wallis’ (AKA the former Meghan Markle).

Now, as speculation runs rife about what will come next in this matter, we today highlight who might become the next permanent host (or hosts) on This Morning and also again suggest that ITV would actually do better to put out this somewhat tired show to pasture. They could, instead, dust down their broom cupboard and come up with an entirely new show.

Continue the thread

Two stories to keep beside you

This morning on Boyle Sports, the available betting odds were as follows:

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  • Alison Hammond – 2/1.
  • Dermot O’Leary – 5/2.
  • Rylan Clark – 11/4.
  • Bradley Walsh – 9/2.
  • Vernon Kay – 5/1.
  • Stacey Solomon – 12/1.
  • Marvin Humes – 14/1.
  • Keith Lemon – 33/1.
  • Thomas Skinner – 33/1.
  • Ant & Dec – 40/1.
  • Alesha Dixon – 50/1.
  • Amanda Holden – 66/1.
  • Piers Morgan – 150/1.
  • Ryan Tubridy – 150/1.

Commenting in response, Steeples observed:

“Whilst I’ve never even heard of Humes, Skinner and Tubridy and Piers Morgan – who’d understandly never ditch the £30 million deal he’s done with Rupert Murdoch at Talk TV and The Sun – has already declared himself out, why aren’t others on this list?”

“The brilliantly bonkers Gyles Brandreth and the equally brilliantly bonkers Christine Hamilton – who herself once made a brilliantly bonkers speech at my very own 21st birthday party back in 2001 – have both sat on the This Morning sofa on many an occasion and there’s no inclusion of other stalwarts including the delights that are Ferne Britton and Matthew Wright either.”

“If the ‘show must go on’ in its present format, these are the kind of people who’d bring both fun and frolicks to our screens, but they’re also capable of serious debate also. ITV would do well to consider them.”

“In reality, whilst I’d prefer to see This Morning disappear from every morning henceforth, the likelihood of more of the same with the undoubtedly voluptuous and vivacious Holly Willoughby and A. N. Other is not a solution. It’s instead time for ‘Willoughbooby’ – as the booby blonde was amusingly once nicknamed by Keith Lemon – to head off to pastures new and it is time for a clean sweep at ITV1.”

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Editor’s Note – Unlike as is the case in many publications, this article was NOT sponsored or supported by a third-party. Follow Matthew Steeples on Twitter at @M_Steeples.

Follow Shaun Attwood on Twitter at @shaunattwood.

Pictured Top – Toxic terror queue jumpers Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby are over as “telly treasures” (top left) but who should replace them? How about one-time regulars on the show such as the ex-MP Gyles Brandreth and British battleaxe Christine Hamilton or what about near frontrunner at the bookies Rylan Clark?

This afternoon on Twitter, Matthew Steeples asked: “Who will be next permanent host replacement for Phillip Schofield and who will be there as sidekick on ITV’s ‘This Morning’?” By 12:30pm on Friday 26th May 2023, the majority of respondents favoured the answer: “Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.”
Christine Hamilton Gyles Brandreth
Responding to our poll within seconds, both mentioned options – Gyles Brandreth and Christine Hamilton – liked Matthew Steeples’s suggestion. The latter retweeted the missive with the accompanying caption: “I’m up for that – sounds a blast!!!” We respond: “Bring it on.”
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whWOAqTTwMw&t=3s
Part two was filmed earlier this week and delved into who might replace the dual British – New Zealand citizen on the sofa of a programme that airs Monday to Friday every week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPOP8hbZ7q8
Part one of Shaun Attwood’s interview with Matthew Steeples was filmed prior to Phillip Schofield deciding to step down from his role as co-host of ITV1’s long running morning show.
Betting odds replacement presenter This Morning
On Boyle Sports this morning, the current stand-in presenters, Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary were at odds of 2/1 and 5/2 respectively to become the next permanent host. Rylan Clark was at 11/4 and though the remainder of the list was made-up of predictable choices, it is a shame that some ‘wildcard’ options were not included.
Win A Date With Phillip Schofield
A truly unappealing date – Doing the rounds on social media this morning was an old advert to “win a ‘date’ with Phillip Schofield” from ‘Smash Hits’ magazine. In it, described was “the dream date of a lifetime” – which more sounded more like something akin to hell – of lunch with the since ditched-by-most ‘entertainer’ at “a swank London restaurant” which the winner would be “whisked off to on a “train (or a plane or a boat or whatever it takes).” The advert continued: “[You’ll dine at] one of the snootiest eating establishments in ‘town’ and there waiting to attend your every whim…”
Piers Morgan Phillip Schofield
Of Schofield’s demise, writing in ‘The Sun’ earlier this week, Piers Morgan stated: “Phillip’s not the evil monster he’s being painted as, nor is he the angel his previously halo-clad reputation suggested. I know a lot of people who loathe him for the way he’s treated them, including my good friends Amanda Holden and Eamonn Holmes. But I also know some of his colleagues, current and past, who speak highly of him and feel genuinely sad that his career is going up in smoke like this. One thing’s for sure, what’s happened to him is further evidence that the abyss-like depths of ruthless backstabbing in the world of daytime television makes even the seething cesspit of Westminster politics seem like an oasis of loyalty by comparison. One-minute Schofield was undisputed king of morning TV and fast heading to bona fide national treasure status – the next he’s a dethroned, shamed, vilified, national disgrace and social media laughing stock. And many of those people he mistakenly thought were faithful friends and colleagues have been happily tossing him on the bonfire in a blizzard of lurid leaks, smears, and damaging headlines. It’s been brutal to watch, but again, entirely unsurprising… I don’t know the full story behind Phillip Schofield’s downfall, but where I feel personal empathy with him is over the manner of his sacking… I, too, was deprived of saying goodbye to my GMB audience and that hurt after putting so much effort into gaining their trust. But he can at least console himself with the fact that he got publicly thanked by his employers.”
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Rylan Clark
Aside from appearing on BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Archers’ as a guest earlier this month, Rylan Clark is said to be “taking a break” from his other presenting duties currently. Could this be code for him preparing to take over co-hosting duties on the ‘This Morning’ sofa?
Neil and Christine Hamilton Gyles Brandreth Matthew Wright
A dream trio? Could Christine Hamilton (pictured top with ex-MP husband Neil) team up with Gyles Brandreth and Matthew Wright and take the show into a new era? They’d certainly be able to better cross the divide into discussing ‘more serious matters’ in a way that the lightweight Schofield and Willoughby most certainly never did.