Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford react as Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary officially replace them on This Morning
News

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford react as Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary officially replace them on This Morning

EAMONN HOLMES and Ruth Langsford have spoken their minds after Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary took over their duties on ITV's This Morning.

They offered their successors words of encouragement after being officially replaced following weeks of speculation.

Eamonn and Ruth both released short, identical statements, wishing their replacements the best.

"It's a changing of the guard on Fridays from January," their statements read.

"We hope you make Alison and Dermot as welcome as you've made us over the years.

"Have a ball you two! It's not Goodbye from us, it's simply Au Revoir until the next half term."

ITV had earlier confirmed the news of the new appointments: "We are pleased to announce that Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary are set to join the This Morning family as regular hosts.

"The dynamic duo will share hosting duties with Philip Schofield, Holly Willoughby, Eamonn Holmes OBE and Ruth Langsford from January 2021."

Rumours had been circling since the start of last month that Eamonn and Ruth were to be replaced, with a number of people criticising ITV for mercilessly sacking the couple who had been in the job for more than a decade.

Ruth even took a couple of pot-shots at Alison prior to the news being confirmed, saying that she and Eamonn had "put the work in" and hadn't been handed a career in TV after appearing on a reality show - in reference to Ms Hammond's appearance on Big Brother.

It's speculated that Eamonn and Ruth will be starting a brand new morning talk-show, most likely with a different broadcaster, which could even run against This Morning on Fridays.