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Britain's Got Talent star Amanda Holden has landed a plum role covering for Holly Willoughby on This Morning while she is away on maternity leave.

Mum-of-two Amanda, 43, will co-host the daytime show from September alongside Phillip Schofield, 52.

Phillip had been pushing for his Dancing on Ice sidekick Christine Bleakley for the job but an insider said Amanda was picked for her popularity with ITV viewers.

The source said the star was “thrilled and excited” and added: “Amanda is a great fit for the This Morning audience.

"Her warmth, charisma and down-to-earth attitude mean viewers relate to her.”

Holly, 33, always takes the summer off and will go on maternity leave with her third child from September, taking a break of up to a year.

She and Phillip host their final show together on Friday and Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford have taken over until Amanda joins.

Meanwhile, former Daybreak presenter Christine, 35, could still be given a role on This Morning, possibly replacing Amanda when the Britain’s Got Talent auditions start in early spring.

The insider said: “It is hoped that Christine will be in the mix at some point.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/a...#ixzz376k8nWet