UK NEWS

THE STARS SITTING PRETTY IN TV HUNT FOR A NEW FIONA

POSSIBILITY: Myleene Klass

Saturday August 30,2008

By Elisa Roche, Showbusiness Editor

Just hours after she announced her departure from GMTV an array of top women presenters were being tipped to take over from Fiona Phillips.

The mother of two is quitting the breakfast show after almost 16 years because she says she “can’t have it all.”

The 47-year-old will leave at the end of the year to devote more time to her children and elderly father.

And rumours are already flying about who will take her place on the sofa – not to mention her estimated £450,000-a-year salary.

Likely top contenders for the job include former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq, 32, and GMTV’s news reporter, 28-year-old Michelle Morrison.

GMTV’s Tiffany Royce, 32, is also well-placed to take the top job, as are singer Myleene Klass, 30, and X Factor presenter Holly Willoughby, 27.

But GMTV has refused to divulge who will be next on the sofa. “Fiona’s only just made her announcement and has several months to go before she leaves,” said a GMTV spokeswoman.

“We’ve got some time to be looking at this and won’t be rushing into any decisions.

“We accept there will be a lot of interest and that speculation will be rife. But for now we are just concentrating on giving her a good send-off.”

Phillips, who joined GMTV in 1993, said of her departure: “This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made. I love the job but I’ve got other responsibilities – the children, a home life and an elderly dad who needs me – and I’ve recognised that I can’t have it all.”

GMTV’s director of programming, Peter McHugh, was among the first to praise Phillips, saying she would be sorely missed.

“After all those years of getting up at 4am we can understand why she wants a change,” he said.

“Her honesty and openness helped make GMTV the success it is. She is a tough act to follow.”

Phillips is married to GMTV programme editor Martin Frizell and the couple have two sons, Nathaniel, nine, and Mackenzie, six.