Former X Factor star lined up as replacement for Phillip Schofield if he’s axed from This Morning

FORMER X Factor host Dermot O’Leary has been lined up to take over from Phillip Schofield if he’s axed from This Morning.

His contract is up for renewal in December and while Phil is determined to fight on, there are some behind the scenes at ITV who are ready for a shake-up – with Dermot tipped as the front-runner.

It comes after The Sun revealed TV hosts Holly and Phil are barely speak off camera as their friendship hangs by a thread.

Dermot stepped in for Phil when he took three weeks off earlier this year as his brother Timothy Schofield, 54, was convicted of child sex offences. He is due to be sentenced on Friday at Bristol Crown Court.

Insiders at This Morning said his popularity, coupled with his close friendship with Holly, made him an obvious candidate to replace Phil.

A show source told The Sun: “Dermot has become a hugely popular figure on This Morning and he would be the ideal replacement if Phil stepped away.

“Phil’s contract is up for renewal at the end of this year and as it stands, there are a number of people working on the show who think it’s time for a shake-up.

“It is still a long way off and anything could happen but there is no hiding Dermot’s popularity – or his close relationship with Holly.

“Dermot is paired with Alison Hammond now on Fridays but when he stepped in to replace Phil during his recent absence, viewers loved his partnership with Holly.

“He is a good friend to Holly so naturally she would be thrilled if they were able to work together more often.

“They had a great time on the sofa together before.”

“He would be the perfect fit should a shake-up happen in the future.”

TV insiders said there could also be the option of a Good Morning Britain style set-up, where Susanna Reid is joined by rotation of co-presenters.

The source added: “There are so many hugely popular stars who fit well with Holly, from Alison and Josie Gibson, to Vernon Kay and Rylan Clark.

“A shake-up could really freshen up the format.”

Dermot joined This Morning in 2021 and now presents the show every Friday with Alison.

The bookies have put him in the lead as favourite to take over from Phil should he choose to step back after 21 years on the show.

Dermot has been friends with Holly for a number of years and he was an usher at her wedding to TV boss Dan Baldwin back in 2007.

Last month she revealed he had even sent a care package to her home when she was forced to miss This Morning for a week because she was suffering from shingles.

Holly shared the delivery from Reuben’s Deli with her 8.2million Instagram followers and said: “Thank you Dermot O’Leary for the sweetest delivery of chicken soup and salt beef… just what I needed.

He was on screen yesterday alongside Alison.

Meanwhile Holly and Phil are expected to return to the sofa on Monday.

They put on brave faces when they appeared on screen just hours after their rift was made public- but a body language expert said they were strained.

Tensions between the pair have bubbled away for some time and more recently they have been affected by Phil’s brother’s court case.