Amanda Holden addresses rumours she’s set to replace Cat Deeley on This Morning after struggling show ratings

Amanda Holden has addressed the rumours that she is set to take over from Cat Deeley on This Morning. 

Cat, 57, and Ben Shepard, 49, replaced Holly Willoughby, 43, and Phillip Schofield, 62, in March after the presenters’ departure from the ITV programme. 

The new hosts have faced a mixed reaction from people at home, reportedly garnering less than 700,000 viewers for one episode in September.

There has been speculation that Amanda – who filled in for Holly during her maternity leave and appeared on the show from 2014 to 2019 – might take over.

However, the Britain’s Got Talent judge, 53, shut down the gossip on her Heart Breakfast with Jason King and Amanda Holden show on Thursday. 

Amanda Holden shut down rumours that she’s set to replace Cat Deeley on This Morning 

Cat and Ben Shepard took over from Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield earlier this year 

Amanda, who is in for Jamie Theakston, addressed the hearsay during a chat with Ashley Roberts.  

‘I saw this morning some rumours stirring about you replacing Cat Deeley on This Morning. What’s the tea?’ Ashley asked. 

‘Oh, well, do you know what? I’m really glad you’ve asked me this. First of all, I absolutely love Cat Deeley,’ Amanda said. 

‘She’s super successful, I’ve always admired her, she’s brilliant, and she’s a real laugh. I hate seeing headlines that say, “I’m taking over from Cat Deeley” when I think she’s doing such a good job on This Morning.’

TV personality added that she believes Cat is ‘going nowhere’.

Amanda went on: ‘Complete rumours! I’m already on the biggest morning show in the country, and that is Heart Breakfast, thanks to our lovely listeners. 

‘So, I don’t know where it’s come from it is categorically not true.’

Ashley reaffirmed Amanda’s point, saying: ‘Not true, you heard it here!’

Amanda called the speculation  ‘categorically untrue’ on her Heart radio breakfast show

The TV personality said Cat is ‘brilliant’ and is ‘going nowhere’ 

It comes after Amanda reportedly accused Phillip of costing her a job alongside him on This Morning. 

Sources told The Sun in June 2019 that Phillip allegedly branded Amanda ‘difficult to manage’ and ‘actively campaigned’ for Rochelle Humes to fill the slot instead. 

‘Phillip actively campaigned for Rochelle Humes to get the job despite Amanda being more experienced – and having been told privately she’d got the gig,’ a former daytime executive said.

‘She feels Phil unfairly used his powers of persuasion. She was told he’d chosen Rochelle because she was easier to ‘manage’ on air – and understandably that incensed her.’

Amanda reportedly took the issue to ITV chief Kevin Lygo at the time. 

Later that month, she was asked on her Heart FM show what three things she wouldn’t like to find in her home and she replied: ‘Spiders, flies, and Phillip Schofield.’

The presenter will be back on viewers’ screens as a judge on the 18th season of BGT in early 2025. 

She will join fellow judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, and Bruno Tonioli, with KSI serving as a guest judge.

Holly and Phillip left the ITV show last year following a scandal surrounding Phillip

Amanda is returning as a judge on the newest season of Britain’s Got Talent (pictured with Ant McPartlin, guest judge KSI, Alesha Dixon, Simon Cowell and Declan Donnelly)

Earlier this month it was reported that show bosses are said to have pulled the plug on hosting the auditions in the London Palladium and they will now all be held in Blackpool instead.

 According to The Sun, bosses decided to change the location because they found the atmosphere in the seaside town to be so enthusiastic for the show.

A source said: ‘Boss Simon Cowell has given the green light to the move and just wants the show to be the best it can be.’

The insider added that Amanda may not be happy with the change, as she works five days a week in London and will have to commute.

The rest of the auditions are due to be filmed in the New Year.

Listen to Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden weekdays from 06:30 to 10:00am across the UK and on Global Player