Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have reportedly extended their contracts on This Morning after negotiations.
It had been unclear whether the two ITV stars could take over lead summer presenter duties while Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard are on leave due to their work commitments.
Dermot, 51, is fronting new comedy gameshow Silence Is Golden for channel Dave along with Katherine Ryan, while Alison, 49, is filming a travel show in America with son Aiden, 19.
When This Morning bosses learned the Bake Off host was due to jet off to Floride for the programme, her availability for the summer looked ‘wobbly’ but they successfully ironed out schedules.
Now, it has been reported Alison and Dermot have been confirmed as This Morning’s Monday to Thursday presenters during the summer.
It was claimed Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle were also considered to fill in for Cat and Ben but instead will serve as back-ups and form part of the show’s rolling rota of presenters.
A source told The Sun: ‘Viewers love Alison and Dermot so locking them in for the summer was a priority.
‘Josie and Craig are great but execs couldn’t risk losing their best names when a spotlight’s on the show.
‘It’s hoped a decent summer run from Ali and Dermot could get things off to a head-start when Cat and Ben return in September.’
A spokesperson for ITV told Metro.co.uk: ‘We’ll announce our summer presenting line-up in due course.’
Alison and Dermot have become fan-favourite presenters for their natural chemistry and quick wit – even if Dermot has to put up with the Bake Off host’s ‘deadly’ farts.
She confessed on quiz show Rob Beckett’s Smart TV that she secretly lets them rip while on This Morning.
‘Oh deadly!’ she replies, in the clip shared with The Mirror.
‘Proper deadly and I won’t say nothing,’ she laughed, before adding, with a little smirk: ‘I’ll just be hosting and then I’ll look at Dermot like that.’
After shooting to fame on Big Brother, Alison joined This Morning more than 20 years ago as a regular segment presenter and announcer.
She soon became a hit with for hilarious interviews with celebrities, including The Rock, and was promoted to presenter.
Dermot first guest presented This Morning in 2014 opposite Holly Willoughby, filling in for Phillip Schofield.
Since 2021, the former X Factor presenter has hosted the ITV show on Fridays.
Metro.co.uk has contacted Alison and Dermot’s reps for comment.
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This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.
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