Davina and Holly in a TV duel to follow Fern onto This Morning
Davina McCall and Holly Willoughby are battling it out to take over from Fern Britton on This Morning.
It is understood ITV bosses have narrowed the field down to the two presenters and will make their final decision in the next two weeks.
A source close to the deal said: 'There are good reasons for having either one of them - they appeal in different ways.'
Teaming up: Holly Willoughby has already partnered with Philip Schofield on Dancing On Ice
Co-host Phillip Schofield is understood to have backed Miss Willoughby, 28, with whom he also works on Dancing on Ice.
And Miss Britton, who will step down at the end of this month, has said: 'I think Holly Willoughby would be wonderful. She represents an enormous swathe of the audience.'
An ITV source said she was a popular choice but there were concerns about her journalistic ability.
Miss McCall, 41, has been circumspect about her desire to take on This Morning, saying she was reluctant to spend so much time away from her children.
Big bother: Davina McCall has been proposed as a possible new co-host for This Morning, but says she would find it difficult to spend the time away from her children
And she is contracted to do at least one more series of Big Brother with Channel 4.
Fiona Phillips, Mel Sykes, Gabby Roslin and Kate Garraway remain outside candidates for the job.
An insider on the show commented: 'We are in a buyer's market for
this job and talent are not dumb. They know it is a very good gig.'
Miss Britton quit her £750,000-a-year job in March after ten years on This Morning, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family.
A spokesman for ITV declined to comment.
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