This Morning faces ‘major overhaul’ after shock departure of boss Martin Frizell with Cat & Ben reshuffle looming

THIS Morning faces a “major overhaul” next spring after the departure of its long-serving boss Martin Frizell last night.

The announcement shocked ITV staff, including presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, who were treated to a “reshuffle” of presentation with a new team expected to rejuvenate the brand.

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News of his departure comes just two months after former presenter Phillip Schofield described the mercurial reporter as a “s***” – dragging two years of turbulent toxicity from This Morning.

Although ITV will advertise the £155,000-a-year position externally, current deputy editor Vivek Sharma is strongly tipped to land the coveted position.

Last night a source said: “It really is the end of an era for daytime television; Huge changes are underway.

“The show never really recovered from the departure of Holly and Phil, and this is an opportunity to move away from the old guard and bring in some new faces to detox the brand once and for all.

“Even though Cat and Ben are extremely talented and accomplished broadcasters, the reality is that their chemistry simply has not replicated that of Holly and Phillip in their prime.

“We hope a few tweaks here and there can make a huge difference – with presenters added to the roster and some exciting new ones features.

“Martin was temperamental and ruthless when angry, and some people were quite afraid of him.

“Martin was old school, but he was also extremely talented, practical, hard-working and dedicated to running this ship.

“His strengths, however, were that he was a total non-conformist and absolutely fearless.

“Although officially ITV is opening the position to external candidates, the feeling is that Vivek is a front-runner; he’s bright, young, talented and exactly what the show needs to refresh and engage with a TikTok generation. He’s full of ideas.

“But he knows not to reinvent the wheel and alienate This Morning’s core audience of housewives and new mums – but he will do it in his own way.”

The fiery 65-year-old editor-in-chief announced his departure yesterday in an internal email to all staff, minutes before the official announcement from broadcasting officials.

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, heartbreakingly, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2022.

Father Martin said in a statement yesterday: “Next year I expect my family priorities to change so I need to make time for them.

“I love my team at ITV and will miss them and the thrill of live TV, but it’s a constant commitment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and I won’t be able to do both.

“It’s been a privilege to manage some truly wonderful presenters and producers. Between us we’ve produced over six thousand hours of live current affairs TV, around 20,000 shows and the gongs are still coming YOU. 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 juggernaut is the toughest test for any broadcast journalist. »

A source added: “Editing This Morning is exhausting work, and Martin felt he couldn’t give his all to both the show and his family. Unfortunately, something must have given.

“As anyone with Alzheimer’s in the family knows, it is a truly horrible, cruel and progressive disease. Martin loves Fiona and now she has to be his priority.

“But it was all his decision, and of course he would like to keep his hand on the TV and who knows what the future holds; holds; he made many incredible contacts during a hugely successful career.

Vivek previously produced Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch, a show – based on Leeds Embankment – which quickly became a cult lunchtime show – hosted by former BBC Breakfast star Steph McGovern – and garnered a large following number of loyal viewers.

He had previously been poached by Piers Morgan to front his award-winning show Uncensored.

Katie Storry, who previously worked with Vivek before joining Loose Women, could also be brought back to the show.

She currently works as an assistant editor on Jeremy Vine’s Channel 5 show.

However, day service manager Emma Gormley might previously have hoped to secure the top job.

However, it has also been tainted by developments over the past two years, with the final straw being Phillip Schofield’s recent appearance on Channel 5’s Castaway.

There, while he fends for himself on a Malagasy island, he talks about the “three shits” of daytime television.

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It quickly fostered a guessing game both within the industry and, more importantly, online.

The three assholes eventually emerged as Martin, Emma and Holly.

Phillip and Martin – who previously had an “extremely close” relationship – fell out spectacularly in the wake of Queuegate.

Martin ordered Holly and Phillip to “skip” the huge queues to see the late queen lying in state – something the presenter, 62, repeatedly objected to, knowing the optics would have l looks terrible.

He was, however, rejected by Martin. The resulting fallout saw Holly and Phillip ridiculed online with countless memes and criticized by the public who claimed their actions were disrespectful.

Martin didn’t own up to his mistake and let the couple take the ball – something the former Dancing On Ice host was completely in stitches about.

Instead, the hapless duo were forced to apologize on air, with Phillip looking completely furious as Holly addressed the nation. Queuegate was another catalyst for the ultimate breakup between Holly and Phil.

A source adds: “Phillip’s recent TV appearance has ruffled many, many feathers.

“Phillip’s quote got everywhere and caused a lot of internal problems – and a lot of embarrassment – for ITV, and brought up all the old toxicity surrounding waiting doors etc.

“The feeling now is that Emma, ​​unfortunately for her, may be too tainted by this to get the job.

“They now want to make a definitive break with the past and finally start to move away from the legacy of Phil and Holly.”

Although Cat and Ben are extremely talented and accomplished broadcasters, the reality is that their chemistry simply hasn’t replicated that of Holly and Phillip in their prime.

A source

During Martin’s tenure, the show won several awards and was a regular on the podium at the National Television Awards.

However, in the last two years it has been beaten in the Best Day category – due to the fallout from the Holly and Phil fallout.

The pair, former best friends and the country’s most popular male/female presenting duo, fell out acrimoniously after Holly began distancing herself from her co-star following the arrest of her pedophile brother.

And after long-running rumors about Phillip’s brief affair with a much younger staff member resurfaced, the network released a statement confirming a “reckless but not illegal” fling.

He was quickly sacked by ITV – and has not spoken face to face with his former ‘TV sister’ since.

Five months later, Holly left the program after learning she had been horribly targeted by would-be stalker Gavin Plumb who had plotted to murder 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.

They ultimately settled on accomplished and talented broadcasters Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley – although fans didn’t embrace them as a duo as hoped.

Many viewers were hoping Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, who present every Friday, would get the full-time gig.

Martin’s departure comes as ITV shares jumped 9 per cent following reported interest in a bid.

The CVC Capital partners are rumored to be in talks for a buyout that could generate a significant increase in profits and help attract more top talent.

Previously, the share price on This Morning was seen as a “big concern” for executives – and they don’t want to jeopardize it with past taints.

A source adds, “The hope is that under Vivek, a new leaf will be turned and a new audience will be attracted to the show.

“We hope this will also lead to a strengthening of the share price, which will obviously have a positive knock-on effect across the board.

“While many will be sad to see Martin go – and he undeniably has, too bad for this program – change is always exciting, and ITV staff are looking to the future and wanting to put the recent checkered past to rest behind him.”