THIS morning a “major overhaul” is in store for next spring after long-serving boss Martin Frizell resigned last night.
The announcement shocked ITV staff, including presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard who could see a “shake-up” in the presentation with a new team set to come in and rejuvenate the brand.
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This Morning faces a major shake-up after long-time boss Martin Frizell quit, above Martin pictured with wife Fiona PhillipsCredit: Getty
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But the announcement could be bad news for presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard Credit: Rex
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ITV bosses admit This Morning never got over Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield’s departureCredit: Enterprise
News of his departure comes just two months after former presenter Phillip Schofield described the bubbly journalist as a “s***” – capping two years of turbulent This Morning toxicity.
Although ITV will be advertising externally for the £155,000-a-year role, current associate editor Vivek Sharma is making big announcements that he will land the coveted gig.
Last night a source said: “This really is the end of an era for daytime television; big changes are underway.
“The show has never truly recovered from the departure of Holly and Phil and this is an opportunity to move away from the old guard and bring in fresh faces to detoxify the brand once and for all.
“Although Cat and Ben are hugely talented and successful TV presenters, the reality is that their chemistry just hasn’t replicated that of Holly and Phillip in their prime.
“We’re hoping that a few tweaks here and there can make a big difference – with presenters added to the roster and some exciting new features.
“Martin was tough and ruthless when he was angry, and a few people were quite afraid of him.
“Martin was old school, but he was also extremely talented, practical, hardworking and dedicated to running that ship.
“However, his strength was that he was a total maverick and absolutely fearless.
“Although officially ITV will open the job to external candidates, the feeling is that Vivek is a shoo-in; he is brilliant, young, talented and exactly what the series needs to refresh and interest the TikTok generation. He is bursting with ideas.
“But he knows he can’t reinvent the wheel and alienate This Morning’s core audience of housewives and new mums – he’s going to do it his way.”
The fiery editor (65) announced his departure in an internal email to his staff yesterday – minutes before the official announcement by the heads of television companies.
He will use his time away from London’s White City to spend more time with – and care for – his wife, former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips, who was heartbreakingly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2022.
Family man Martin said in a statement yesterday: “Next year I expect my family priorities to change so I have to make time for them.
“I love my team at ITV and will miss them and the excitement of live television, but it’s an always on, 24/7 commitment and I won’t be able to do both.
“It’s been a privilege to lead some really great presenters and producers, between us we’ve produced more than six thousand hours of live television, that’s about 20,000 submissions, and the gongs are always good.”
Next year I expect my family priorities to change so I need to make time for them
Martin Frizell
Referring to his pride in campaigns covering topics such as suicide, menopause and testicular cancer, he added: “This enormous power is the toughest test for any broadcast journalist.”
The source added: “Editing This Morning is an all-encompassing job and Martin felt he couldn’t give his best to both the show and his family. Unfortunately, something had to give.
“As anyone who has Alzheimer’s in their family knows, it is a truly horrible, cruel and progressive disease. Martin adores Fiona and now she has to be his priority.
“However, this was only his decision, and of course he would like to keep television under control and who knows what the future holds; he has made many incredible contacts during an extremely successful career.”
Vivek previously produced Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch, a show – based on Leeds Pier – which quickly became a cult lunchtime hit – hosted by former BBC Breakfast star Steph McGovern – and amassed a huge following.
He was previously tapped by Piers Morgan to host his award-winning show Uncensored.
Katie Storry, who previously worked with Vivek before moving to Loose Women, could also return to the series.
She currently works as a deputy editor on Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine.
However, daytime manager Emma Gormley has also struggled recently.
It has been – some might say unfairly – plagued with developments over the past two years, the final straw being Phillip Schofield’s recent appearance on Channel 5’s Castaway.
On it, while he was taking care of himself on the island of Madagascar, he mentioned the “three s***s” of daytime television.
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Holly pictured at the London premiere of the Robbie Williams biopic Better ManCredit: ©Karwai Tang
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Cat and Ben Shephard could see the introduction of a ‘shake-up’ with the new team due to arrive Credit: Rex
He quickly promoted the guessing game within the industry—and, most importantly, on the Internet.
The three whores eventually appeared as Martin, Emma and Holly.
However, Emma was recently invited to sit on ITV’s studio board so it looks like her job won’t be changing any time soon.
Phillip and Martin – who were previously in an “extremely tight” relationship – had a spectacular falling out after Queuegate.
Martin ordered Holly and Phillip to “skip” the huge queues to see the late Queen lying down – something the presenter, 62, repeatedly objected to, knowing the optics would look terrible.
However, Martin ruled over him. The resulting break-up led to Holly and Phillip being mocked online with countless memes, with the public characterizing them claiming their actions were disrespectful.
Martin didn’t own up to his mistake and let the pair take the fire – something the former Dancing on Ice host was extremely passionate about.
Instead, the unhappy duo were forced to apologize on air, with Phillip looking utterly furious as Holly addressed the nation. Queuegate was another catalyst for Holly and Phil’s eventual split.
Adds the source: “Phillip’s recent appearance on TV has ruffled many, many feathers.
“Phillip’s quote went around and caused a lot of internal problems – and a lot of embarrassment – for ITV, and brought out all the old toxicity about queue-gate, etc.
“They now want to make a clean break with the past and finally start to get away from Phil and Holly’s legacy.”
Although Cat and Ben are extremely talented and successful TV presenters, the reality is that their chemistry just didn’t match that of Holly and Phillip in their prime
Source
During Martin’s tenure, the series won several awards and was regularly on the podium at the National Television Awards.
However, it has been beaten in the Best Daytime category for the past two years – the result of Holly and Phil’s break-up.
The pair, once best friends and the country’s most popular presenter duo, had a bitter falling out after Holly began to distance herself from her co-star following the arrest of his pedophile brother.
And after long-running rumors of Phillip’s brief affair with a much younger member of staff resurfaced, the broadcaster issued a statement confirming the “unwise but not illegal” relationship.
He was immediately sacked by ITV – and hasn’t spoken face-to-face with his former “TV sister” since.
Five months later, Holly left the program after it emerged she was the terrifying target of would-be stalker Gavin Plumb, who planned to kill her.
In December 2021, former on-screen doctor dr. Ranj described the show’s culture as “toxic”.
Following this turmoil, ratings began to plummet as bosses frantically searched for long-term replacements.
In the end, they settled on successful and talented TV presenters Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley – although fans did not accept them as a duo as they had hoped.
Many viewers were hoping that Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, who perform every Friday, would get a full gig.
Martin’s departure comes as ITV shares jumped nine per cent after interest in the bid was reported.
CVC Capital’s partners are rumored to be in talks for a takeover that could lead to a big boost in profits – and help attract more top talent.
This Morning’s share price was previously said to be a “big concern” for chief executives – and they don’t want to jeopardize it with past snubs.
Adds the source: “We hope that under Vivek, a new leaf will be turned and a new audience will be attracted to the series.”
“Let’s hope that this will also result in a strengthening of the share price, which obviously has a positive side effect as a whole.
“While many will be sad to see Martin go – and he undeniably did, so much for that program – change is always exciting and ITV staff are looking forward to putting the recent tumultuous past behind them.”
The feud tarnished the brand
ALL good things must come to an end – and after 10 years, and a particularly turbulent past 18 months – the end was near for Martin Frizell.
Lively, passionate, talented and combative, he is one of the last editors of the old school.
But under his helm, the myth of the comfortable world of daytime television was shattered. There’s no doubt that Holly and Phillip’s toxic feud tarnished the brand – and their ghost haunts This Morning to this day.
Just a few weeks ago, the Ghost of Schofield’s past came back to haunt Martin, over a campfire in Madagascar.
Frizell – whose charity campaigns are to be commended – can be proud of his legacy. But big changes are certainly coming to Ovo jutro.
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