Rumours of tension between Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary have been swiftly shut down by ITV bosses, after claims that two now have an 'increasingly strained' relationship behind the scenes.
There were a few eyebrows raised at the end of 2020, when it was revealed that ex Big Brother star Alison and X Factor presenter Dermot would be taking on the role of being the daytime show's Friday hosts, replacing Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford. Some viewers took a while to warm to the double act, but, over the last year or so they have become firm favourites and both were well tipped by bookie to be the full time replacement for Phillip Schofield and become a permanent presenter alongside Holly Willoughby.
However, while things still seem very jovial between Alison and Dermot in the This Morning studio when cameras are rolling, it's been reported by the Mail on Sunday that things aren't the same backstage. A source told the paper: "Alison and Dermot got off to a tricky start, they had very different levels of experience and came from totally different places but they then did start to rub along quite nicely.
READ MORE: Alison Hammond in This Morning 'scuffle' with co-star as Dermot O'Leary steps in
"Recently though things have become strained and it is worrying the bosses, they fear that this couple they put together which they had hoped would carry the show through the tough times it is enduring may have to present apart a bit more."
The claims have been rubbished by an ITV spokesperson, who said: ""This is absolute nonsense. There’s no tension between Alison and Dermot, quite the opposite."
And, ITV viewers will get to see more of Alison and Dermot working together over the next week, as they step into host This Morning all week, as Holly Willioughby takes a break.
*For all the latest TV and celeb news from Chronicle Live, sign up to our dedicated newsletter HERE.
