She’s the bubbly, blonde Bristolian who this week hopes to become the saviour of This Morning.
Josie Gibson, the show’s former competition announcer, was promoted to presenter only 18 months ago as a last-minute stand-in when Holly Willoughby could not appear. Her down-to-earth demeanour immediately made her a favourite with the viewers and she has since covered occasionally for Ms Willoughby.
Now, she has been tasked with the biggest challenge in This Morning’s 35-year history – to replace Phillip Schofield and sit alongside Ms Willoughby as her co-presenter.
The ITV show has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after it was revealed that Schofield lied about having an affair with a younger colleague.
Insiders say the fact that former Big Brother winner Ms Gibson is open and ‘ordinary’ means ITV bosses ‘adore her’, while those watching at home find her relatable.
Saviour: Josie Gibson (pictured), the show’s former competition announcer, was promoted to presenter only 18 months ago as a last-minute stand-in when Holly Willoughby could not appear
Replacement: Ms Gibson has been tasked with the biggest challenge in This Morning’s history – to replace Phillip Schofield and sit alongside Holly Willoughby (right) as her co-presenter
Ms Willoughby, who is returning after a two-week break tomorrow, is also a fan and is delighted that she will be returning to the sofa with another woman.
ITV’s director of television Kevin Lygo also has a connection: his daughter is one of Ms Gibson’s agents.
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Ms Gibson is also close to another of This Morning’s presenters, Alison Hammond. The pair are such good friends that they have even spent Christmases together with their sons.
Ms Gibson, 38, was catapulted to fame in 2010 when she won Big Brother – with an impressive 77 per cent of the public vote.
After the show, Ms Gibson capitalised on her popularity through the sale of themed merchandise – including a perfume named Josie.
She also sold hoodies and tops, became an ambassador for Curvissa clothing and began a career in showbusiness journalism.
In 2011, she featured on the Channel 5 show OK! TV as a reporter and presenter before the show was cancelled at the end of the same year. A year later, she became a columnist for celebrity magazine Now.
She has since been open about her struggles with her weight and has lost six stone since finding fame.
She has also starred on numerous television shows including ITV’s Loose Women as well as her own reality shows John James And Josie: What Happened Next and There’s Something About Josie.
Ms Gibson has a four-year-old son named Reggie-James but she split from his father just four months after he was born.
Earlier this year, she shared pictures in Paris with This Morning cameraman Sam Morter, and in one shot the pair were seen holding hands.
But she insisted: ‘I’m still single . . . I couldn’t pull a cracker.’
