Alison Hammond 'blindsided' This Morning viewers right at the end of Friday's show, when she announced that she would be hosting the show on Monday, but without revealing who she was replacing.
Alison was back in action alongside Dermot O'Leary to host the ITV programme's final instalment of the week, for an action packed two and a half hour live broadcast, that saw them joined by Brit winner Lewis Capaldi and Neighbours legend Alan Fletcher.
And it was after Karl Kennedy actor Alan's appearance alongside one of his Neighbours co-stars, that Alison and Dermot brought This Morning to a close for another week, but not before Alison had some big news to break.
Having teased star guest, Strictly judge Shirley Ballas, Alison, who was recently confirmed as the new Bake Off host, added: "And guess what? I'm going to be hosting; Monday 10 o'clock," as Dermot gave her a congratulatory high five.
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Crucially, Alison didn't reveal who out of Phillip and Holly she would be standing in for, but, given that there have been plenty of calls for her to be full time host in the past; ITV viewers are sure to welcome her promotion.
Last month, after rumblings that Holly could be ready to walk away from This Morning, insiders claimed that Alison is the clear favourite to replace her should she quit, with a source saying: “ITV bosses are clear they want Holly to return to This Morning next year," one source said.
"But while a question mark hangs over her future, there have been conversations about who could step in if she decided to go.
"Top of that list is Alison. She has gone from being seen as a safe pair of hands to a real asset to the channel."
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