Kate Garraway had some big shoes to fill after replacing Piers Morgan as the new host of ITV talk show Life Stories.
However, the Good Morning Britain regular needn't have worried as viewers shared their rave reviews of Kate's debut as she sat down for a deep chat with football legend John Barnes.
Kate, 54, replaced her former ITV colleague Piers who stepped down from his post after 12 years to embark on a new venture with brand new channel talkTV.
Mum-of-two Kate, who has been open about her own personal struggles after her husband Derek Draper is still battling long-term effects of Covid-19, was a total hit with viewers.
One took to Twitter : "@kategarraway big shoes to fill but you've absolutely smashed it xx"
Tagging Piers Morgan, one fan wrote: "You gave Life Stories to the best person mate. @kategarraway's doing a fabulous first show."
Another echoed: "You've smashed it! Your interview with with John Barnes is fabulous and your skills exceptional! #inawe"
"@kategarraway is an absolute queen btw, what a woman. So pleased to see she’s presenting this #LifeStories," said another fan.
Speaking of her new role on Good Morning Britain, she told Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard that she found the idea of her new role "weird".
After Ben said that he was very excited to watch her in the hot seat, Kate said: “It still sounds so weird.”
“It sounds so right," Susanna quipped.
"You, of course, did the interview that marked the end of Piers Morgan’s Life Stories and then he handed over the baton,” Susanna added.
Kate joked: “Handed or I grabbed whichever way you look at it.”
Piers wished Kate luck ahead of her debut: "Good luck to @kategarraway who hosts her first Life Stories show tonight. As I told Kate today, it does feel a bit weird handing over the reins of a show I presented for so long, but at least it’s to someone I love! Wish her all the very best. Airs on ITV @ 9pm."
But some viewers said they preferred Kate's style of interviewing compared to Pier's more abrupt and direct approach.
One wrote: "10 seconds into #LifeStories already a million times better presented than @piersmorgan."
Another agreed: "INSTANTLY a show is improved by a lack of Morgan #LifeStories."
" Kate's holding her own without any problems imo :) I doubt 'You're fired' will be coming her way anytime soon! #agreatjob," a third said.
Kate described her chat with John as "open and honest" and described his insight into the world of football as "fascinating".
England legend John, whose first marriage with Suzy ended awfully after he was caught cheating, opened up about his multiple affairs.
The former Watford and Liverpool footballer described himself as a "terrible husband" but says he has learned from his mistakes.
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John, who shares four children with Suzy in their 20 year marriage, was unfaithful with a timeshare rep while on holiday in Spain.
"It was a ridiculous thing for me to do and the impact it had was awful," he told the Daily Mail at the time.
"I think our relationship was too good for it to destroy the marriage but I suppose it could have.
"Looking back, I remember only how terrible it was and how guilty I felt for doing that to her."
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