ITV Reportedly Considering Tess Daly and Vernon Kay for This Morning Hosting Role
ITV is reportedly eyeing up television's golden couple Tess Daly and Vernon Kay for the prestigious hosting role on This Morning. According to new reports, the married presenters could be in line for the top job should current hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard's contracts come to an end at the channel.
Successful One Show Appearance Sparks Interest
The speculation follows Tess Daly's recent appearance alongside her husband Vernon Kay on a one-off special of The One Show last month. This marked Daly's first major television appearance since stepping down from Strictly Come Dancing after an impressive 21-year tenure. The experienced presenter received a remarkably warm response from viewers after the BBC show aired.
Their chemistry on The One Show sofa is said to have immediately captured the attention of ITV executives. A source told The Sun: 'It was a total no-brainer the second they saw them on The One Show sofa. Execs have been sweet on Vernon for ages, but the pair's natural husband-and-wife banter made them realise exactly what This Morning has been missing.'
Search for the Next Richard and Judy
The insider further revealed that ITV is 'obsessed with finding the next Richard and Judy' and believes Tess and Vernon possess 'that exact same effortless magic.' The source noted that while audiences can be notoriously tough on new faces, viewers 'completely fell in love with their northern charm' during their recent television appearance together.
This marked the couple's first shared screen appearance in nearly two decades, with their last major joint presenting role being on the BBC singing competition Just the Two of Us, which they co-hosted between 2006 and 2007.
Warm Fan Reception and Television History
Fans responded enthusiastically to seeing the couple present together again. Viewers took to social media with comments including: 'It was so lovely to see you on the TV Tess. I let out an 'ahhhh' when I saw you with your lovely hubby' and 'You and Vern presenting together is everything. Loved it.' Another fan remarked: 'You did great tess, hope you'll be on again soon' while another noted: 'A brilliant line up and you were so relaxed be lovely to see you again.'
Tess and Vernon originally met when they were both emerging presenters working on separate shows for major television channels. At the time, Vernon hosted Channel 4's T4 program while Tess presented ITV's SMTV on Saturday mornings. The couple began dating shortly after meeting on T4 and have since become one of television's most recognized couples.
Personal and Professional Partnership
Reflecting on their relationship, Tess previously told Digital Spy: 'It was all quite immediate, really, because we instantly had such a blast together. I couldn't imagine having more fun with anyone else. It was pretty explosive, I tell you.' She added that maintaining a long-term relationship requires effort, noting: 'You keep the fire burning, you keep stoking that fire.'
The couple tied the knot two years after meeting in 2003 at St Mary's Church in Horwich, Vernon's hometown. According to reports, they hosted their reception at the nearby Rivington Hall Barn, opting for a more intimate celebration rather than a high-profile celebrity event. Vernon expressed being 'over the moon' with their low-key wedding arrangements.
Tess and Vernon have built successful individual careers while maintaining their partnership, with both presenters' professional trajectories advancing significantly over the years. They are parents to two daughters: Phoebe Elizabeth, 21, and Amber Isabella Kay, 16.
The newspaper reports indicate that Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard's contracts are set to conclude this spring, potentially creating an opening on the popular daytime program. The Daily Mail has contacted ITV for official comment regarding these hosting speculation reports.
