Holly Willoughby to replace Fern Britton as This Morning presenter

Holly Willoughby will take over as co host of ITV1's flagship daytime show This Morning, ITV confirmed today.

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Willoughby had been pegged as frontrunner to replace Fern Britton alongside Phillip Schofield in a recruitment process that had reportedly included Big Brother presenter Davina McCall.

Britton announced in March that she intended to bring her decade-long tenure on the show to a close when the current series finishes.

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"This Morning has always been the ultimate dream job for me," said Willoughby.

"To spend my days sat next to Phil on the sofa just makes it that bit extra special. Now I just can't wait for it all to start."

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Willoughby, 28, who will start her new role in September, has worked with Schofield as co-host on Dancing on Ice.

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Britton's departure brings to an end a seven-year co-presenting partnership with Schofield, who was originally brought in to work with Britton in late 2002 as a short-term replacement for John Leslie.

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