Dermot O’Leary has opened up about the reason why he and Alison Hammond never replaced Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on This Morning after the duo’s shock departures

Dermot O’Leary has revealed the real reason behind him and Alison Hammond not taking over the slot left by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning.

Phillip’s shock departure from the show in May 2023 came amid controversy surrounding his admission of an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a younger male colleague, while Holly exited later in October 2023.

However, although Dermot and Alison could have filled the void, the role eventually went to Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley.

In a recent interview, 51-year-old TV presenter Dermot, who co-presents This Morning with Alison on Fridays, explained that his decision was influenced by his family commitments. He prioritises his morning routine with his son, Kasper, and values a healthy work-life balance.

Dermot told the Sunday Times: “We’re both busy enough. It’s about a good work-life balance. I’ve worked long and hard enough to know what is important.”

Holly and Phil left This Morning in 2023 (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Since welcoming his son with his wife, Dee Koppang, back in June 2020, Dermot has become more family-focused. In a previous interview with the Sunday Times, he shared how fatherhood had shifted his priorities, stating that spending time with his wife and “little man” brings him the most joy.

He remarked: “Do I need another car? The latest gadget? A bit of vintage Van Morrison vinyl? No, forget the material stuff. What I want is to be with the people I love!

“Dee’s work means that we’re not always together but, those evenings when we are, we make the most of spending proper time together as a family.”

Dee’s busy career involves her role as a director on prominent Netflix series such as hits like The Crown and Bridgerton – in addition to her work on other esteemed projects, including the 2012 Olympic Games and producing lingerie shows for Victoria’s Secret.

Dermot stressed the importance of a “good work-life balance” (Image: ITV)
In contrast, Dermot has become a household name through his omnipresence on our television screens, especially remembered as a host on the X-Factor, alongside featuring on programmes across BBC, ITV, and Channel 4.

Venturing into the realm of children’s literature, Dermot has penned the highly popular Toto the Ninja Cat book series, which has seen incredible sales in the hundreds of thousands and been translated into a staggering 16 different languages.

Meanwhile, speaking previously about his relationship with books, Dermot, who grew up in Colchester, with his Irish parents, Maria and Sean, and his big sister Nicky, said: “I don’t think there’s ever been a time when I haven’t had a book by my bedside.

“I’ve got mates of mine who say, ‘I read The Da Vinci Code in 2008 and nothing since’ and I find that baffling. I can’t imagine not reading books – I don’t think I could go to sleep without one.”