This Morning presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary returned to ITV on Monday (July 20) but faced a major schedule shake-up. The show was cut short to air an ITV News special covering the transition of power as Andy Burnham officially became Prime Minister, succeeding Keir Starmer.
Alison and Dermot Fill In for Cat and Ben
Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, the usual main hosts, were absent as they take a summer break. Alison and Dermot, who typically host Friday editions, stepped in for Monday's show. However, before they could dive into the programme, it was announced that This Morning would end at 11am instead of its usual 12:30pm finish, making way for a special news broadcast.
Alison addressed viewers: "Hello and welcome to your Monday's This Morning. It's lovely to have your company. We have a slightly shorter show for you today but there is still lots to go through." Dermot added: "There's lots going on."
Why the Schedule Changed
The ITV News special covered Andy Burnham's appointment as Prime Minister after his visit to Buckingham Palace to accept the role from the King. Burnham is expected to begin appointing his cabinet later that afternoon. This Morning typically airs from 10am to 12:30pm, followed by Loose Women, but was truncated to accommodate the political coverage.
Alison and Dermot's Rise on This Morning
Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley became the main presenters after the departures of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. Phillip left in May 2023 after over two decades, while Holly stepped down in October 2023 after 14 years. Alison and Dermot have quickly become fan favourites, despite not knowing each other before working together. Dermot told The Times in 2023: "Alison Hammond, my co-host, and I didn't really know each other when we started working together but now we're like family. I think there's an honesty to that." He also stressed the importance of presenter chemistry: "If two people aren't getting on, the viewers can see that."
