This Morning regular's four-word verdict on 'atmosphere' on set as ITV hosts replaced
EXCLUSIVE: A This Morning regular has opened up about her time on the programme following her recent appearance on the ITV daytime show.
Gemma Collins appears on This Morning in 2016
Gemma Collins described the atmosphere backstage as "chilled vibes" months after the daytime programme was hit with complaints last year. A number of current and former ITV colleagues made claims about the troubling working environment.
An external review conducted in 2023 concluded there was "no finding of a 'toxic' culture" on the ITV programme following Phillip Schofield's shock departure. He stepped down from This Morning on May 20, leaving with immediate effect after more than 20 years on the ITV programme.
Months later his colleague Holly Willoughby announced her exit from the daytime show.
The former Only Way Is Essex star, 43, appeared on the daytime show a week ago (June 28) where she discussed her recent health struggles with presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary.
Addressing the show's atmosphere, Gemma said: "The vibe there was really lovely. The studio was really calm. There was such a nice atmosphere. It wasn't intense. It was chilled vibes."
Following Holly and Phil's exit from This Morning they were replaced by new hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard.
While a million viewers tuned in for their big debut, two months later it was reported figures stood at less than 500,000.
Speaking about their roles, Gemma praised Cat and Ben's appointment as main hosts, suggesting it was time for a presenter shake-up.
"I love Ben Shephard. He cracks me up. And Cat Deeley. I love Cat Deeley," Gemma gushed. "They're doing great."
She continued: "It takes time. Make space for new people, mix it up. I think the format of having the same presenters working for them for so long, now they can switch it up at any time.
"Alison's doing a great job. I loved Alison and Josie together. I thought they were doing a good job."
Gemma is well known for appearing on a whole host of reality TV shows after first hitting our screens on The Only Way Is Essex in 2011 but joined the daytime show to discuss her struggles with incontinence.
She said: "Lucky for me I've managed to cure myself. With the pelvic floor, it's massively helped. We just need to talk about it more."
The TV star spoke candidly about her experience with urinary incontinence, also known as involuntary urination, which is the accidental loss of urine. It can affect anyone, but it's more common in women, especially those over 50.