This Morning

[AlexJac0788]

Judging by the comments on '#ThisMorning', as well as under TM's own Twitter feed, a lot of folk would be rather displeased if Eamonn & Ruth were in fact being phased out.

You can't really go on a handful of people who bother to tweet about it. The ratings have determined that Alison & Dermot are popular and have boosted numbers. They are likely the future for This Morning.

From what I've read, all the articles have done is compare January 2021 ratings with that of January 2020. Considering where we were 6 months ago in terms of Covid restrictions, is it any wonder viewing figures were considerably higher?

[XIII]

I suspect the producers don’t care what a handful of people on forums and social media say about the show.

[Brekkie]

If they did Holly and Phil would have gone a long time ago.

[HarveyB]

Suspect the demos are better too. And Dermot really should be considered much more of a coup for the show than he actually is considering he's probably been the number one (individual at least) presenter around for the last decade or so. Alison also brings an energy to the show you just don't get with most other daytime hosts. People complain when you get cookie cutter functional presenters on these shows - and then complain when you don't.


Talking of other daytime shows I see Dr Ranj was working for the other side this morning over on Morning Live. In the space of a year This Morning has gone from being the only daytime magazine show around to having two rivals bookending it. In that sense it is no surprise those in charge are now not being so complacent in their hosting choices.

I was going to say What's the other show but I'm guessing it's Steph's Packed Lunch

[Steve Williams]

If they did Holly and Phil would have gone a long time ago.

Well, this is true, and if Eamonn and Ruth were as massively popular as is being suggested, they'd be on more often, because ITV are a commercial business and they have no interest in alienating the audience or perservering with stuff that isn't popular. And if they wanted to get rid of them completely, they could just get rid of them.

I would hope that Eamonn and Ruth have the wit and perception to be grateful for the work, they've been there for a long time - Ruth was presenting in the Richard and Judy era and they're been presenting together on the show since 2006. If you were to look back at the other shows and presenters around in daytime in 2006, not many of them are still about, so they've had an exceptionally long run, indeed longer than Richard and Judy, so they've done very well out of it.

And if ITV want to make a change and have them on less often so they can try new people, they're perfectly within their rights to do that. I always mention when Channel Four got rid of John McCririck from the racing and he took them to court citing age discrimination - but he lost the case, because it was decided that C4 were within their rights to make a creative decision, and they had audience research which supported their suggestion that he wasn't as good as he used to be and he wasn't very popular with the audience anymore. Television is a creative industry where on-screen talent are almost exclusively freelance, so there has to be the opportunity for broadcasters to make changes, otherwise this forum would be the first to complain about programmes being "tired".

If Eamonn and Ruth really thought they were being badly treated, there's nothing stopping them leaving This Morning and go somewhere else. That's exactly what Richard and Judy did, they didn't like the way the show was going and didn't much like the new Head of Daytime so they quit and went to another broadcaster, and because of their popularity a lot of the audience went with them. If Eamonn and Ruth wanted to do that, they certainly could. The fact they haven't suggests they're happy enough with what they've got.

[Victor]

I agree with everything Steve Williams said but I would add that these decisions about presenters are very much age related. They can't say it out loud but younger presenters are better looking, have more energy and appeal to younger viewers. To keep shows like This Morning fresh, you need to phase out older presenters. There might indeed be a backlash if it is done too abruptly. Viewers have affection for the hosts and don't want to see them mistreated. Some longtime viewers may indeed stop watching. But if you choose the right replacements, new younger viewers will likely tune in. It's tough but this is the way the industry works and presenters, to some extend, are expected to go along.

[VMPhil]

I agree with everything Steve Williams said but I would add that these decisions about presenters are very much age related. They can't say it out loud but younger presenters are better looking, have more energy and appeal to younger viewers. To keep shows like This Morning fresh, you need to phase out older presenters. There might indeed be a backlash if it is done too abruptly. Viewers have affection for the hosts and don't want to see them mistreated. Some longtime viewers may indeed stop watching. But if you choose the right replacements, new younger viewers will likely tune in. It's tough but this is the way the industry works and presenters, to some extend, are expected to go along.

Wow. I think Miriam O'Reilly would disagree with you on that.

Judging from this post, the industry still has a long long way to go on ageism…

[Brekkie]

This Morning has just been lucky, or unlucky depending on how you view it, to have a low hosting staff turnover in the last 19 years, and indeed throughout it's life. Indeed we're only a year or so from the Holly and Phil partnership being longer than Richard and Judy's original stint.

There has always been a strong contrast between Holly and Phil and Eamonn and Ruth - and as much as that has worked to the shows strength over the years it also meant it was unsustainable. Alison and Dermot now offer something far more in keeping with what has been created around Holly and Phil over the years.

[AlexJac0788]

There has always been a strong contrast between Holly and Phil and Eamonn and Ruth - and as much as that has worked to the shows strength over the years it also meant it was unsustainable. Alison and Dermot now offer something far more in keeping with what has been created around Holly and Phil over the years.

I just cannot see how that is unsustainable. Having two fairly different presenting duos meant that there was something for everyone.
Consider how different the Piers & Susanna and Ben & Kate partnerships were on GMB; the audience knew what they'd be getting and, as such, tuned in/avoided the programme accordingly.

I recall seeing a post on TVF a few years ago, which cited the reason for Richard & Judy relinquishing the Friday programmes as partly being down to providing the audience with some variety. IMO the Alison & Dermot partnership is far too close to that of Phillip & Holly.

[Ash101]

There has always been a strong contrast between Holly and Phil and Eamonn and Ruth - and as much as that has worked to the shows strength over the years it also meant it was unsustainable. Alison and Dermot now offer something far more in keeping with what has been created around Holly and Phil over the years.

I just cannot see how that is unsustainable. Having two fairly different presenting duos meant that there was something for everyone.
Consider how different the Piers & Susanna and Ben & Kate partnerships were on GMB; the audience knew what they'd be getting and, as such, tuned in/avoided the programme accordingly.

I recall seeing a post on TVF a few years ago, which cited the reason for Richard & Judy relinquishing the Friday programmes as partly being down to providing the audience with some variety. IMO the Alison & Dermot partnership is far too close to that of Phillip & Holly.

But The One Show is the same every single night, despite having different (male) presenters on say a Wednesday and a Thursday?

Yes - GMB did have a different feel with Piers but that was unique & the debates/discussions that took place are still present at the end of the week.

The biggest problem with Eamonn especially on This Morning is you can sense his distain at doing the 'lighter' items. That's what This Morning is all about under Phil & Holly, so it translate well to Alison & Dermot. Reminds me of a few weeks back when Stephen Mulhern was on doing a preview of In For A Penny on a Friday morning. A&D had a go at the ice cream game he did, whereas you would never have seen E&R doing it.

[AlexJac0788]

There has always been a strong contrast between Holly and Phil and Eamonn and Ruth - and as much as that has worked to the shows strength over the years it also meant it was unsustainable. Alison and Dermot now offer something far more in keeping with what has been created around Holly and Phil over the years.

I just cannot see how that is unsustainable. Having two fairly different presenting duos meant that there was something for everyone.
Consider how different the Piers & Susanna and Ben & Kate partnerships were on GMB; the audience knew what they'd be getting and, as such, tuned in/avoided the programme accordingly.

I recall seeing a post on TVF a few years ago, which cited the reason for Richard & Judy relinquishing the Friday programmes as partly being down to providing the audience with some variety. IMO the Alison & Dermot partnership is far too close to that of Phillip & Holly.

But The One Show is the same every single night, despite having different (male) presenters on say a Wednesday and a Thursday?

Yes - GMB did have a different feel with Piers but that was unique & the debates/discussions that took place are still present at the end of the week.

The biggest problem with Eamonn especially on This Morning is you can sense his distain at doing the 'lighter' items. That's what This Morning is all about under Phil & Holly, so it translate well to Alison & Dermot. Reminds me of a few weeks back when Stephen Mulhern was on doing a preview of In For A Penny on a Friday morning. A&D had a go at the ice cream game he did, whereas you would never have seen E&R doing it.

On the other hand, Eamonn's input into a lot of items - fashion, for example - is relatable for a significant chunk of viewers. I recall one instance where he pointed out the ridiculous-nature of a footwear item and the comments were mostly that of 'thank God he said what we were all thinking!'.
Yes, social media isn't 100% representative of ALL viewers, but looking at the demographics of the more regular commenters, as well as some of their politics, you can get an idea of the general feeling.

Personally, I find it quite refreshing when a presenter gives their honest opinions.

[XIII]

It's interesting that when This Morning did a beauty or fashion item on Fridays, Ruth presented it without Eamonn which I thought was strange since on the other days, Holly and Phil would be present it together and it's the same with Alison and Dermot.

[RDJ]

It's interesting that when This Morning did a beauty or fashion item on Fridays, Ruth presented it without Eamonn which I thought was strange since on the other days, Holly and Phil would be present it together and it's the same with Alison and Dermot.

It’s the way Richard and Judy used to do it back in the day. If there was a heavily male or female orientated item then just one of them would be there. Now the only time Philip and Holly get split apart is if it’s a male/female medical examination.

To be fair Philip or Dermot or whoever adds nothing to the fashion or beauty item with them being there. They try to remain interested with just the female host able to voice their opinions on looks or products. So it makes more sense really if Ruth just does it on her own than Eamonn just sat there in silence when he could be preparing for the next item.

[Steve Williams]

I just cannot see how that is unsustainable. Having two fairly different presenting duos meant that there was something for everyone.
Consider how different the Piers & Susanna and Ben & Kate partnerships were on GMB; the audience knew what they'd be getting and, as such, tuned in/avoided the programme accordingly.

But ITV don't want people to avoid the programme on various days - they want people to watch it every day, as if the audience finds something else on those other days, they might not come back.

[DeMarkay]

It wasn't worth starting a whole request thread for this, but would someone mind capturing the new Alison and Dermot promo that's been airing all week? I'd like to try something out with it. Thanks