Ruth Langsford has addressed speculation that she may return to This Morning following Holly Willoughby's departure.
The TV presenter, 63, fronted the ITV show on Fridays alongside her husband Eamonn Holmes until Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond replaced them in January 2021 after 15 years on the sofa.
However, viewers have been speculating whether Langsford will return to the ITV mid-morning stalwart, which has been fronted by a rotation of presenters following Willoughby and Phillip Schofield’s departure.
Yet, the Loose Women presenter has firmly shut down the return rumours and insisted “that ship has sailed”.
She told Hello! magazine: “I think that ship has sailed. Listen, never say never. I adore that show and it was a dream to work on it.
“I worked on it before Eamonn, actually people forget that. I say to him: ‘I took you to work, don't forget!’”
Despite having no current plans to commit long-term, Langsford previously said Holmes’ exit from ITV wouldn't stop her from returning for a short stint on the show if she wanted.
She told Woman & Home magazine: “I don’t have to ask Eamonn’s permission to do anything, or for him me, so if ITV said, ‘Would you come and do a week on This Morning?’ and if I was free and it was with the right person, I probably would do it.”
Langsford's comments come after ITV confirmed Willoughby will return to television to present Dancing On Ice with Stephen Mulhern in January.
The former This Morning host and Stephen Mulhern will reunite to host Dancing On Ice 20 years after they presented Ministry Of Mayhem together.
Schofield, who had presented the ice skating competition alongside Willoughby since 2006, will not return to front the programme following his resignation from ITV earlier this year after he admitted having an affair with a younger male former colleague on This Morning.
Willoughby also left This Morning in October following 14 years on the sofa.
Mulhern briefly hosted alongside Willoughby on the ITV skating competition in 2022 after Schofield tested positive for Covid-19.
The pair also presented Saturday morning children’s show Ministry Of Mayhem, later titled Holly & Stephen’s Saturday Showdown, from 2004 to 2006.
