"so do you prefer theatre or TV" - I can see why Holly Willoughby was hired for this morning!

[smittenkitten]

i was prepared to be open minded - I'm not a top TV producer, they must have seen something that wasn't immediately obvious to me, but no, she really is just a pretty shell. What were they thinking? Who do they think watches this? I can understand she has 'dad appeal' for sat night prime time, but this is for SAHMs! I want someone who doesn't make me feel fat and ugly, and actually has some life experience, and can string a sentence together and ask an insightful question. Is this too much to ask?

i think holly has blended in really well she is doing a great job, thought i would miss fern but i dont.

so thyey need to hire someone fat and ugly to make you feel better about yourself?

its her first day, she's clearly nervous. she will be asking what she's told to ask.

isnt jeaulously an awful thing

yes she's pretty

and.......

She is quite funny on Xtra Factor but I haven't seen her on This Morning.

She is pretty but then so are most women on TV. Why single Holly out for this "crime"?

I wondered if anyone would be talking about this.....I am holding judgement on Holly until the end of next month. Give her some time to settle in.

Have to say I am struggling not to switch channels right now. I want to give her a chance but at the end of the day, she is better suited to a younger audience. I don't care what the TM presenter looks like or how old they are. I just find her annoying in the same way I find many presenters on CBBC/T4. Fact is, I am not the target audience for CBBC or T4 OR Xtra Factor. I'm a SAHM who would prefer a presenter that has a bit more life experience and is more of a natural live TV presenter. LOVED Eamonn and Ruth for the past two weeks...missing them lots!
Also, does anyone else think that Philip is like an excitable puppy this am?? I think he is loving his new presenter- LOL!

I only watched the last 15 minutes so hardly an expert on her performance this morning but yes, she did seem very young and out of her depth on the show, tbh.

I heart Fern too. But more than that was the rapport between her and Phil. I also think that the subjects often covered/people interviewed need a more mature presenter to handle them.

She is gorgeous but that has no bearing on her abilities as a presenter.

So, not just me then. Good. I saw 10 seconds of her vacuous grin this morning and changed channels.

WHY OH WHY () do TV execs assume that we all want/need stunning eye candy on screen all the time? They've done it for sports' presenting, which even DH admits is irritating. He wants to talk footie with boyz at the end of the day. Sexist, he admits, but that's how it is (and he is very "new man" in all other respects).

I agree with the OP. I want someone like Fern. My age (ish), warm, friendly, motherly, funny, approachable, lovely to look at (because of that warm smile) and with a bit of life experience. I could sit down and chat about "wimmin's stuff" with Fern. Holly just makes me feel middle-aged and past it. I'm not, but I don't wish to feel patronised by some TV suit's crass interpretation of what I want.

Sorry. But they've mis-judged their target audience here.

my point was that the reason she was hired is that she is pretty, and has no other discernible qualifications or experience for the role. I am happy to stand up for women to be appointed based on their qualities and skills. I think the recent flurry of dismissals and replacements of experienced indiviuals by vastly less qualified 20-somethings(fern by Holly, Arlene by Alesha and Jo Whiley by Fearne Cotton) is part of an exceptionally anti-woman trend. I would invite all MNetters who object to being made invisible to stop watching and stop buying from companies that sponsor.

I feel they should have chosen an older presenter. I don't think she will ever live up to Fern and even though Holly has worked with Phillip before, she'll never have the chemistry that Fern had with Phil.

That job should have gone to Emma Forbes .

Tis a shame, I agree - I have nothing against Miss Willoughby, personally, except that she is not up to this particular job.

I think she did ok for her first day - No one is perfect on day one in a new job - I think we should give her a chance, she has a good rapport with Phil and I think that help with the audience if we have an open mind

"She is pretty but then so are most women on TV. Why single Holly out for this "crime"? "

...Because she is a bit vacuous?

Totally agree with your post of 18.55 Smittenkitten - it troubles me too. Celebrity Come Dancing is now banned viewing in our house (although I was never a fan in the first place!)

A bit older would be better, I agree. I feel a bit uncomfortable with the Grey Wolf/Bonny Ingenue combination- it's like watching Bruce and Tess Daley

[email protected]

we could send them our thoughts.....

Ah I think she seems quite sweet.

(Just read that, sounds patronising but she has only just started).

Blimey, Peter Andre is on here too (haven't watched TM for a while) How long has he been on here for??

Just turned over to see what she's like. Rather pleased PA is on too!

I like Holly, she seems quite personable and very nice.

She is good with Phil too, obviosly because they have worked together before.