Alison Hammond: ITV working on a series of big projects for This Morning star after Phillip Schofield scandal

ITV are said to be working on a number of huge TV projects for Alison Hammond after Phillip Schofield left This Morning last month. On Saturday (June 10), a source confirmed to The Mirror that ITV’s chiefs are looking at other TV entertainment options for the 48-year-old, despite receiving praise from This Morning fans after she and Dermot O’Leary stepped in to fill Schofield and Holly Willoughby’s places on the show.

Willoughby took a break from the This Morning sofa after Schofield revealed he had an affair with a younger co-worker while on the show. Although Willoughby has now returned to This Morning, there are fears she could leave ITV to focus on a new project with the BBC.

A source told The Mirror: “ITV bosses want to cut a new deal with Alison. They are seriously worried about Holly talking to the BBC and fear she could be next.

“She is incredibly popular and is perceived as very honest – which is worth a lot following Phillip’s admission that he lied to everyone.”

Hammond was confirmed as Matt Lucas’s replacement on The Great British Bake Off earlier this year. The 48-year-old will co-host the Channel 4 show alongside Noel Fielding. The source added: “While Bake Off is factual, ITV don’t want to see Alison working on entertainment formats with any other channel.

“They want to lock her in, and there has even been talk of a golden ­handcuffs deal solely for entertainment shows with ITV. That kind of deal could see her land a salary worth as much as £500,000 a year – but there currently no plans in place for that.”