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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte McIntyre

This Morning viewers fume as Dermot O'Leary becomes Holly Willoughby's latest co-host

Dermot O'Leary stepped in to present This Morning on Monday with Holly Willoughby but the new ITV partnership left viewers divided as some felt he was better suited with his usual Friday co-host Alison Hammond.

The presenting duo kicked off the show by revealing Dermot would be by Holly's side for the next two weeks after previously presenting with Alison while Holly enjoyed an extended break.

Commenting on the new pairing, one fan tweeted: "Sorry @thismorning @ThisMorningShow #Dermot belongs with #Alison. Pls stop trying to get a match for #Holly."

"Holly and Dermot? #itvthismorning #thismorning," another wrote with a cartoon picture captioned: "Witchcraft."

"I like Dermot but feel he is just filling in as presenter until something bigger and better comes along #thismorning," a third added.

However, disagreeing another wrote: "@thismorning great show as always this morning team, Holly and Dermot are brightening a Monday morning."

Praising James Martin's addition to the show as the day's in-house chef, one viewer said: "Dermot, Holly & James Martin. Feeling very 2008 today and I like it. #ThisMorning," and another added: "Dermot can finally get a word in now he’s presenting with Holly #ThisMorning."

Kicking off the show, Holly and Dermot revealed they hadn't presented together since the latter joined the programme as one half of the Friday duo with Alison.

Holly will be joined by Dermot for the next two weeks (ITV)

Dermot remarked: "It's weird because obviously we see each other a lot just in real life but we haven't worked together since we did The Xtra Factor together."

Holly estimated she presented with Dermot back in 2008 before she'd given birth to her first child, her son Harry.

The presenters explained they did present together on This Morning once before 14 years ago.

This Morning viewers watched a clip of the pair in the ITV studio with Dermot wearing an almost identical outfit.

"You look exactly the same!" Holly exclaimed as Dermot joked: "I've just chopped off the sleeves, I'm wearing the same top."

When Holly returned to This Morning last week, she delivered a speech addressing her former co-host Phillip Schofield's affair scandal.

She said: “You, me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth. Who acted in a way that they themselves felt that they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process.

“And it’s equally hard to see the toll that it’s taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and wellbeing of everyone. I hope that as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.

“And, from my heart, can I just say thank you for all of your kind messages. And thank you for being here this morning."

“Myself, Josie (Gibson), Dermot (O’Leary), Alison (Hammond), Craig (Doyle), and every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you this show that we love.”

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