Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary tease hosting ITV…

Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary tease hosting ITV This Morning full-time

Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary have teased hosting This Morning full-time after being quizzed on the possibility in a new interview. Viewers of the ITV daytime show are used to seeing the pair host the programme on a Friday while also filling in during the holidays.

Alison, 47, and Dermot, 49, took over the regular hosting gig from Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes in January last year. Former Big Brother star Alison had already spent the best part of 20 years on the programme, often being sent out to play games with members of the public and interviewing some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

But former X Factor host Dermot was brought in after guest stints on the show to create a new This Morning duo alongside Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, who continue to host the show from Monday through to Thursday.

There has previously been rumours that the pair weren't gelling behind the scenes but have since gone on to disprove those claims. In June this year, a spokesman for This Morning were forced to confirm that the duo have become firm friends - and even socialise away from work together.

And in October, Alison shared her confusion at why people think that she and Dermot don't get on. But if that was the case, would Dermot have accompanied his co-star to the doctors? We think not! Appearing on the Christmas episode of Dish, a podcast hosted by Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett, Alison and Dermot retold the tale of how they ended up in the doctor's surgery together.

"We had such a nice afternoon. We ended up going to the doctor's..." Dermot began before Alison explained: "So I was gonna cancel Dermot 'cause [her son] Aidan had a real sore throat. And I just thought, you know what, I'll just take Aidan to the doctors, you know, Dermot can chill out in the house, whatever.

"Anyway, next thing I know, he was like, ‘I'm coming with you.’ I was like, ‘No, you really don't have to come with me,’ ‘No, I'm coming with you.’ Oh my god, it was hilarious. We got to the doctors, they were all like so starstruck by Dermot, walked into the doctors, he's sitting in the doctors, we're waiting for the doctor, he comes into the doctors..."

Alison and Dermot became main hosts of the show in January 2021 (ITV)

Dermot then interjected: "I didn't think I was gonna go in to see the doctor, but by then I was like, in for a penny in for a pound." Alison went on: "I was like, this is Aidan's TV dad. We all sat down. So then we do the, obviously he's trying to explain what's wrong with this throat, and she's talking through it. And then all I can remember is cut to, Dermot is getting measured by the doctor because he wants to know how tall he is."

But it wasn't long before talk turned to This Morning when Angela asked: "Would you, if the opportunity came, do it full-time?" to which Alison started: "Do you know what, I know my... oh, are you talking about the show? I was thinking about a Caribbean restaurant. No, I was thinking would you have a Caribbean restaurant? I would definitely have a Caribbean restaurant. I think it would do really well, don’t you think?"

The pair then went off on a bit of a tangent about the imaginery restrautnd before Angela repeated her question. "I think it's a nice thing if someone said to me, you're doing Fridays for the next ten years, I'd be over at the moon. I love it," Dermot said. Alison added: "It's perfect for Dermot cause he lives in London."

He then replied: "But with you [Alison] as well. Wouldn’t want to do it without you." But Alison quipped: "He says that... when he gets offered [the fullt-time job] he’ll be like, 'Bye! It’s been great.'" However, Dermot responded: "I would do it without you, but I just wouldn't want to do it."

Dish, hosted by Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett is available on all podcast providers now.

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