Ruth Langsford and Alison Hammond had to interact with one another on Wednesday’s This Morning – the first encounter between the two women since it was revealed the former was being replaced with the latter.
And viewers took to social media afterwards to brand it a tad ‘awkward’.
Alison, 45, was co-hosting the show with Phillip Schofield, having to do a live link to the Loose Women studio – another show Ruth presents.
Face-to-face: Ruth Langsford and Alison Hammond had to interact with one another on Wednesday’s This Morning
As they did, Ruth, 60, said hello to Phil, but seemingly snubbed Alison – not mentioning her at all.
Alison merely waved, quietly, as she watched on.
Any potential upset may boil down to the news that Ruth and her husband Eamonn Holmes are being replaced on This Morning’s Friday show by Alison and Dermot O’Leary.
Reactions from Twitter included one person remarking: ‘Ruth speaking to Phil and ignoring Alison on this morning. Awkward!’
First encounter: This was the first time the two women appear to have spoken since it was revealed Alison was taking over from Ruth
‘Awkward’: Alison, 45, was co-hosting the show with Phillip Schofield, having to do a live link to the Loose Women studio – another show Ruth presents
Another posted: ‘Slightly awkward that Alison is presenting #ThisMorning today and then Ruth pops up on Loose Women!’
Someone else branded it ‘drama’, as others re-voiced their feelings about the presenting shake-up.
One suggested Phil and usual co-star Holly Willoughby should be axed, while someone else claimed Alison could stay but Dermot was a poor choice.
On Monday, Alison announced that she’s landed her own podcast, tweeting: ‘Guess what? @ITV have given me my very own podcast – My Life In TV.’
‘I’ll delve into the fave telly moments & memories of famous faces including [Emily Atack, Joel Dommett, AJ Odudu, Mo Gilligan, and Olivia Attwood].’
Reactions from Twitter included one person remarking: ‘Ruth speaking to Phil and ignoring Alison on this morning. Awkward!’
Job: Alison has announced that she’s landed another job at ITV, with a new podcast
Alison and Dermot will be taking over Eamonn and Ruth’s long-time presenting roles on the popular ITV chat show – a role they previously held for 14 years.
Alison shot to fame as a contestant on Big Brother in 2002 and has since forged a hugely successful television career.
This comes after Eamonn reportedly claimed that online trolls were plotting to get him sacked, hours before reports surfaced that he and Ruth were being dropped from This Morning.
Speaking to his fans on a Belfast Live Facebook group, the broadcaster revealed that it was ‘stressful’ knowing that trolls were able to ‘get you sacked’ on ‘live TV,’ according to the Daily Mirror.
New gig: On Monday, Alison announced that she’s landed her own podcast, tweeting, ‘Guess what? @ITV have given me my very own podcast – My Life In TV’
Absolute icon: Confirming the news on their own Twitter account, ITV wrote; ‘Yep, that’s right. We’re launching a brand new podcast, hosted by the absolute icon, @AlisonHammond’
It’s thought Eamonn made the comments just a day before reports surfaced that he and wife Ruth were being dropped from This Morning.
Eamonn said: ‘People say it’s water off a duck’s back but people wake up and they know they can get you sacked… that’s the thing about live TV. It can be very stressful.’
In recent weeks, Eamonn has being telling friends of his fear that he is too ‘pale, stale and male’ for the ITV show, which has gained criticism for not being diverse enough.
Eamonn and Ruth were said to be ‘disappointed and devastated’ by the latest news, as they have ‘loved’ their stint presenting on This Morning.
Hosts: After stepping in guest host in recent months, it was recently revealed that Alison, 45, and Dermot O’Leary, 47, will take over the Friday slot usually presented by Eamonn and Ruth
The duo will continue to host the ITV show from Monday to Thursday during the schools’ six-week summer holiday.
Fern Britton, 63, who hosted the popular daytime show between 1999 and 2009, took to Twitter after hearing the big news and said ‘Oh no?’.
But the presenter also tweeted: ‘That doesn’t take away from the fact Alison Hammond is a superstar who deserves the world. Overlooked for far too long by ITV, this is her moment.’
News of the new line-up comes just five months after This Morning editor Martin Frizell told staff that he was planning to hire a black presenter.
Trolling: Eamonn reportedly claimed that trolls plotted to get him sacked, before reports surfaced that he and Ruth were being dropped from This Morning
During a video conference with staff in June, he said: ‘There is not a black presenter on any of the programmes today. We plan to change that, we [This Morning] are looking into that.’
Alison, who first appeared on screen as a contestant in Big Brother, and Dermot, impressed both viewers and ITV bosses when they covered for main hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in the summer.
And Eammon and Ruth have been assured that they remain ‘part of the This Morning family’ and will likely be asked to cover when other presenters are on holiday.
On Saturday night, a This Morning source said: ‘Ruth and Eamonn have been part of the show for 14 years and being told they are no longer wanted has been very sad and disappointing for them.
‘They love it and the viewers love them, but times are changing on the show and they have been the victims.’
Safe: While she is reported to no longer be presenting This Morning, Ruth will remain a regular panellist on Loose Women (pictured last week)