It's Kate v Kate: Battle begins for Fiona's spot on the GMTV sofa

11 April 2012
The Weekender

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Fiona Phillips's place on the GMTV sofa isn't even cold yet - but there is already heated competition to take over her job.

Kate Garraway and Kate Silverton have emerged as the frontrunners to become the main presenter on the breakfast show, working opposite Ben Shephard.

Battle of the Kates: Garraway, left and Silverton both hope to rule the GMTV sofa

Miss Phillips, who currently occupies the prime Monday to Wednesday slot on the programme, surprised viewers this week by announcing she was quitting to spend more time with her family.

According to insiders, the two Kates are the favourites to replace Miss Phillips when the 47-year-old leaves at Christmas.

Miss Garraway, 41, already presents the show on Thursdays and Fridays. She is highly regarded at ITV and insiders have described her as the 'natural successor' to take over the slot.

Fiona Phillips: Leaving the ITV show at Christmas

Fiona Phillips: Leaving the ITV show at Christmas

But the fact that the role has not automatically been handed to her has already been interpreted as a snub. Insiders said she was not even aware her colleague was leaving and she had no advance warning from bosses.

Miss Garraway, who became a household name with her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, is therefore expected to quit if she does not get the top role.

BBC Breakfast presenter Kate Silverton is also tipped for the position, particularly as her contract with the BBC expired several weeks ago.

She is still negotiating a new deal with corporation, leaving her vulnerable to the overtures of rival broadcaster.

Ambitious Miss Silverton, 38, is seen as the kind of presenter GMTV bosses will be looking to recruit, mixing glamour with intelligence.

An insider at the network confirmed that a initial conversation had taken place.

Other names being tipped for the role are Five News presenter Natasha Kaplinsky - who is currently on a £1million-a-year deal - and the BBC's Susanna Reid. Among the outsiders are The One Show's Christine Bleakley, who is starring in this year's Strictly Come Dancing, and Melanie Sykes.

It is understood that ITV, which owns the majority share in GMTV, is keen to ensure that Miss Phillips's replacement is a serious broadcaster with popular appeal.

One source said: 'If they gave it to Kate Silverton, I don't think Kate Garraway would stick around.

'The other point is that there have been redundancies this year so it would not go down well if GMTV suddenly started shelling out huge amounts for new big names.'

It is not the first time Miss Silverton has been approached by a rival broadcaster. She turned down the job fronting the much-hyped relaunch of Five News before it was offered to Miss Kaplinsky.

She was rewarded for her loyalty by the BBC and given a wider brief to cover. This included launching the new 90-second news update at 8pm earlier this year.

She has also filmed a number of documentaries and will be working on BBC1's popular Big Cat Diaries next month.

This week she presented the Olympic Heroes return show for the broadcaster, which pulled in ratings in excess of 4million.

Insiders are predicting that GMTV will use the new hiring as part of a bigger relaunch at the beleaguered broadcaster.

Last year regulator Ofcom imposed a record fine of £2million on the station after it was caught up in a huge phone-in scandal.

GMTV is also now regularly beaten by its rival BBC Breakfast. It now averages about 4million viewers, while the BBC gets about 5million.

Miss Phillips leaves the programme halfway through her £1.5million contract.

She described it as the 'hardest decision she had ever made', but said she had other responsibilities  -  including her two sons, who are aged nine and six.

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