ITV This Morning's Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary make awkward mistake on live TV

ITV’s long standing breakfast show This Morning was plunged into chaos two weeks ago due to the sudden departure of host Phillip Schofield. His co-star Holly Willoughby also took leave from the show, but is expected to return this Monday 5 June.

Due to the main presenters’ absence, Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have stepped up to present the show day in day out. Despite their best efforts, there have been a few harmless slip-ups in what has otherwise been a stellar performance from the duo.The latest in the series of comedic errors came from both Alison and Dermot in Wednesday’s episode. 

Lorraine’s stand-in host Ranvir Singh signed off her breakfast show to hand over to the This Morning crew. The two interim presenters did not appear to realise they were visible to ITV viewers during the transition between the two shows.

After a painfully awkward silence, Ranvir desperately asked: “Are you ready for us?” This was met with another silent moment before Dermot O’Leary noticed the camera and sprung into action immediately.

When the cameras cut back to Lorraine (hosted by Ranvir), she jokingly exclaimed: “No one noticed Dermot, no one noticed.”  

In their first week as interim presenters, fans hounded Alison Hammond for mispronouncing guest Anne Nolane’s name as “Anne Noland”. In another show, Craig Doyle filled in for Dermot who was celebrating his birthday, and similarly to Wednesday’s incident, he did not anticipate the show going live after the ad-break.

Holly Willoughby is expected to return to the This Morning sofa very soon. The presenter took leave in April due to reported shingles, and her most recent absence was explained as “early half-term leave”. Holly and Phillip Schofield were reported to be feuding prior to Schofield’s resignation from the show.