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Bradley Walsh has been a huge hit with viewers over the years, especially after his cheeky charm on ITV hit The Chase. It seems his popularity hasn’t gone unnoticed by TV bosses, especially after Phillip Schofield was accused of “skipping” the queue to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state.
This Morning hosts Phillip and Holly Willoughby recently felt the wrath of the general public, who claimed the duo “jumped” the queue to see the Queen at Westminster Hall.
When speaking up about the incident, the hosts insisted that they visited Westminster as part of the media, and would never “jump” the queue.
Since then, Phillip has lost his £1million deal to advertise We Buy Any Car. However, the company claimed that his five-year contract was due to end in 2022, a decision taken prior to stories about him.
A source reportedly told The Mirror: “As Phillip’s popularity wanes, television and advertising execs are looking at Bradley Walsh.
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“He’s squeaky clean, popular with viewers and doesn’t have any of the baggage that Phillip has.”
PR expert Mark Borkowski has claimed Bradley’s range makes him a powerful force, adding: “He’s got a nose for what the ITV viewing public wants, and also he’s managed to avoid all the negativity that dogs Phillip Schofield.
“Anything he touches at the moment is gold. I’ve always said the Holly and Phil queue gate would ultimately be judged whether or not advertisers felt they were negative.
“For a commercial TV station, if your public has an issue and advertisers have an issue then there is a quick exit stage right.”
His acting career kicked off after playing Danny Baldwin in ITV soap Coronation Street and went on to star in hit BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who.
Bradley is good friends with Holly and Phil, especially after working with the latter on the gameshow Take Off with Bradley & Holly.
When the images of Holly and Phil were first revealed, many flocked to slam the pair on social media, with one going as far as to create a poll to get them kicked from presenting This Morning.
Bookmakers Ladbrokes were offering odds of 6.4 that the duo would not front the ITV daytime show in 2023.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “Perhaps it’s time for a change on the This Morning sofa.
“With Holly and Phil far from being in the British public’s good books right now, it could well be a case of New Year, new presenters, if the latest odds are anything to go by.”
Phil began presenting the show in 2002, with Holly joining the show to replace Fern Britton in 2009.
This Morning airs on weekdays from 10am on ITV.
Express has reached out to ITV for comment.
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