This Morning confirms Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary's future as Holly Willoughby takes 'break'

This Morning has confirmed Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary's future amid claims of a 'strained' relationship between the pair behind the scenes. The show's usual Friday hosts were thrust in front of the camera after the Phillip Schofield scandal broke back in May.

The ITV daytime programme's former star quit the show after more than 20 years on the famous sofa, claiming the show had 'become the story' due to reports he and Holly Willoughby were 'barely speaking' behind the scenes. But less than a week later and Phillip, 61, confirmed he'd quit ITV altogether while admitting to an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger ITV colleague.

While Holly took an additional week's break from the show following the news, Alison, 48, and Dermot, 50, stepped in. And Alison was later seen breaking down in tears when she commented for the first time on what had happened after her former co-star gave his first TV interview at the start of June.

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As they showed footage from an interview Schofield had done with the BBC's Amol Rajan in which the former TV star spoke about the effect on his mental health, Alison broke down as she said: "I loved Phillip Schofield. It's weird because I still love him. As a family, we're all really struggling to process everything.

“My mum always said use your bible as your sat nav. He without sin cast the first stone. I don't want to say anything bad because I am in conflict." Alison's emotional display then continued as she said: "There is only so much a man can take."

However, Alison and Dermot have since returned to their usual Friday slot on This Morning with Dermot also enjoying a two-week hosting stint