EXCLUSIVE: Steve Jones to join This Morning alongside Josie Gibson with ITV bosses ‘thrilled’ at addition following Phillip Schofield’s departure
Television presenter Steve Jones is joining This Morning and will host the programme on Wednesday alongside Josie Gibson, MailOnline can reveal.
ITV bosses are ‘thrilled’ with the new addition to the show following Phillip Schofield’s departure in May.
Sources at the channel say that if viewers like him then he will ‘almost certainly’ become part of the This Morning’s rotations of hosts who will present with Holly Willoughby along with Ms Gibson, Alison Hammond, Dermot O’Leary and Craig Doyle.
One told MailOnline: ‘The hope is that those watching at home will love Steve, he’s a very experienced broadcaster but also very cheeky.
‘There is no permanent replacement for Phil, Holly will be presenting with Alison, Josie, Dermot and Craig, and now probably Steve.’
New addition: Television presenter Steve Jones is joining This Morning and will host the programme on Wednesday alongside Josie Gibson, MailOnline can reveal
‘Hopefully he will be part of the new dawn for This Morning after the Schofield scandal, and will help to give it a fresh new look.’
Welsh heart-throb Jones, 46, who currently anchors Channel 4’s Formula 1 coverage, shot to fame in 2003 when he presented Channel 4’s T4 alongside Miquita Oliver. He was later hired by Simon Cowell to host the X Factor USA.
However, he quickly became known best for his romantic antics after dating a number of celebrities – most famously Pamela Anderson.
He also enjoyed romances with Ms Willoughby’s close friend Fearne Cotton, Denise Van Outen, former Emmerdale actress Amy Nuttall and the late Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding/
Jones also had a three-year-long relationship with fellow Welsh presenter Alex Jones, host of BBC programme The One Show, between 1999 and 2002.
Last month the pair endured an awkward reunion when she interviewed him about his new book on the show.
The excruciating exchange came just months after Ms Jones, 46, revealed the shocking reason behind their 2002 split after they had dated for three years.
She told how Jones lied that she was unwell so he was able to steal an exclusive interview with Angelina Jolie for their Channel 4 show Rise.
On screen: Sources at the channel say that if viewers like him then he will ‘almost certainly’ become part of the This Morning’s rotations of hosts (Josie piictured)
Quit: ITV bosses are ‘thrilled’ with the new addition to the show following Phillip Schofield’s departure in May
Ms Jones she had ‘read all about’ her ex’s book, before the presenter awkwardly quizzed her on how much of it she has read.
Addressing him, she said: ‘As a prolific reader, you’re definitely good at writing! I’ve read a bit of the book and it’s got me hooked.
He replied: ‘How much is a bit? What page are you on Jones?’ before she responded: ‘Maybe a quarter of the way through.’
Jones settled down in 2014 when he married American Phylicia Jackson-Jones since 2014 after meeting her in Los Angeles A when he hosted The X Factor USA in 2011.
Speaking of his wife, Jones said recently: ‘My good marriage, my healthy marriage – it’s my greatest achievement. I love being with my wife. She’s my absolute favourite person.’
ITV bosses have decided not to replace Schofield, 61, who in May admitted to having an affair with a much younger colleague and then lying to The Mail on Sunday about it.
Instead, Ms Willoughby, 42, will be front and centre of the programme Monday to Thursday, with a member of what ITV chiefs call the ‘This Morning family.’
