Phillip Schofield’s replacement to host British Soap Awards confirmed | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV
Jane McDonald is taking over presenting duties from Phillip Schofield for this year’s British Soap Awards on ITV according to Mirror Online.
It comes after Phillip, 61, announced he had quit ITV entirely, following his exit from This Morning amid claims of a “feud” with co-star Holly Willoughby.
Phillip had hosted the awards show since 2006 but it has been reported singer Jane will be taking over hosting duties.
The star is best known for Channel 5 travel series Cruising With Jane and her previous role on Loose Women.
Ahead of hosting the awards, Jane said: “Oh my god…..everyone knows how much I LOVE my soaps, this year I’ve been honoured to be mentioned in Corrie, EastEnders and Emmerdale, so this is just a dream come true.
READ MORE: Holly Willoughby ‘to step away’ from This Morning after Schofield’s exit
“I can’t wait to see all our wonderful soap nominees and celebrate all their hard work with them – roll on the awards, I can’t wait!”
The five biggest soaps – Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks – will be battling it out to win recognition for their work over the past year.
Some of the biggest faces from all five soaps will be hitting the red carpet for the most star-studded and glamorous event in the soap calendar.
The ceremony will take place on June 3 and will be aired on ITV on Tuesday, June 6 at 8pm.
An ITV spokesperson said at the time: “The British Soap Awards will take place next Saturday as planned, and we will make further announcements in due course.'”
Organisers of the awards made the decision to remove any mention of Phillip from their website in what has been described as the latest “snub”.
When Phillip first announced he was stepping down from his This Morning role, he assured viewers he would be hosting the awards ceremony in Manchester.
However, he made a dramatic U-turn after admitting to an affair while he was still married.
He said in a statement: “The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning.
“I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.
“I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family.
“I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife.”
