After it was revealed that Olivia Attwood has landed a presenting gig on This Morning, sources have divulged to Closer that the show’s former long-standing host, Holly Willoughby, has been reeling from how the influencer generation are grabbing the best roles.

An insider tells us that Holly, 44, has been left ‘baffled’, adding, ‘She’s surprised by the choice. It’s not personal, but she does feel quite judgemental about the new direction of the brand that she helped build for over a decade. There’s definitely some quiet tension. Holly’s not sure what direction the show is supposed to be taking, and Olivia’s casting has raised eyebrows.

‘It’s hard for her as she worked for years to establish herself as a credible broadcaster, and seeing  a younger woman like Olivia walk into such a prime slot so quickly feels like a slap in the face.’

Olivia, 34, recently shared the exciting news that she has been snapped up to present on ITV’s flagship daytime show for a few episodes across the summer. Appearing on This Morning recently with hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, she said, ‘I’m going to be doing a couple of shows in the summer. I’m very excited to be joining you guys, [it’s] a huge honour.’

Olivia Attwood ©Dave Benett/Getty Images for Three UK

The Love Island star – who will be presenting with one of the show’s regular co-hosts – said that she was thrilled with her latest signing, adding, ‘I’ve grown up watching [This Morning], and being part of the daytime team on Loose Women has been the best experience and this just feels like a very natural progression.’

Many of her fans rushed to congratulate her, with one commenting, ‘Love her! Great addition to the team. She’ll be fab.’ Regular This Morning host Alison Hammond also posted, ‘Yass Olivia welcome to the team.’

However, other viewers seemed to have the same underwhelmed reaction as Holly and are unsure about the move, with one saying they ‘definitely will stop watching’, and another adding that ITV ‘must be desperate’.

Holly Willoughby on This Morning in 2021 ©Ricky Vigil M/GC Images

Holly’s lukewarm reaction to Olivia’s signing comes after she stepped down abruptly from This Morning in 2023. She’d joined the show in 2009 as Fern Britton’s replacement and co-hosted alongside Phillip Schofield, who quickly became her best friend. It wasn’t long before she became widely regarded as ITV’s ‘golden girl’ and a favourite among viewers, who loved watching her friendship on-screen with Phil.

But it all came crashing down in May 2023, when Phil quit the showafter he admitted to lying about a relationship with a younger ITV employee. Holly left the show five months later after a terrifying kidnap plot, which led to the life imprisonment of the disgraced security guard Gavin Plumb. Holly released a statement after leaving the show, saying, ‘It’s been an honour to be a part of [This Morning’s] story and I know this story has many chapters to go. Sadly, however, I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family.’

Following This Morning’s latest recruitment, sources reveal that there are mixed opinions behind the scenes. An insider says, ‘There’s definitely a split in the building. Some of the senior producers are worried viewers won’t take Olivia seriously. Others think she could bring in a new audience and refresh the format. The more traditional crew miss the gravitas of past hosts. But there’s a younger group quietly excited to see what Olivia brings. It’s a gamble, but everyone’s watching closely.’

Podcast pals Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks ©Jim Dyson/Redferns

Meanwhile, Olivia’s career has gone from strength to strength since she soared to super stardom on Love Island in 2017, where she finished third with now ex-boyfriend Chris Hughes. She has built impressive presenting credentials since, especially with ITV, having been a regular panellist on Loose Women since 2023, and filming multiple successful documentaries.

As well as her current documentary series on ITV, The Price Of Perfection, she’s previously presented Getting Filthy Rich and Bad Boyfriends, both of which were also a hit for the channel. She also hosts her chart-topping Bauer Media podcast, So Wrong It’s Right, as well as her Kiss FM radio show, The Sunday Roast, which she presents with fellow reality TV favourite, Pete Wicks.

While it seems that Holly and some viewers are sceptical about her newest role, Olivia is determined to silence the naysayers as she bids to become the next TV ‘golden girl’.

A source says, ‘Olivia’s genuinely shocked – she didn’t think she’d be offered something as iconic as This Morning. She knows there are whispers, but she’s focused. She’s not trying to be Holly or Alison, she’s carving her own lane. This is the kind of platform she’s been working towards. Whatever people think, she’s ready to prove them wrong.’