AN Irish 90s TV veteran has emerged as firm favourite to replace Phillip Schofield on This Morning - but he's neck and neck with Rylan Clark.
Craig Doyle, 52, who often features on the ITV show sofa, is 5/2 favourite to bag the telly role.
Phil's This Morning exit was confirmed after weeks of intense speculation about his future and a feud with co-host Holly Willoughby, 42.
And we told how Schofield left ITV on Friday and was axed by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an "unwise but not illegal" affair.
Schofield's 40-year career has since been left in tatters - with the Prince's Trust axing him from his role as an ambassador.
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He was also scrubbed from This Morning's social media and website as the fallout from his affair continues.
Several current This Morning stars are in the frame to replace him - including Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond, who are set to be quizzed in a major ITV probe on Schofield.
The pair are joint 3/1 second favourites with bookies BoyleSports but Irish fans are throwing their weight behind Dubliner Craig to nab the job.
Former Big Brother star Rylan is tied with Doyle with Irish punters backing the pair into 5/2 odds.
Dad-of-four Doyle shot to fame in the mid-90s on the Disney Club
The Stillorgan man has built up a hefty TV roster in the UK, hosting across BT Sport Premiership, European Champions Cup rugby coverage and MotoGP motorcycle racing.
But he's no stranger to Irish telly viewers, having hosted his own RTE chat show Tonight with Craig Doyle.
BoyleSports' Lawrence Lyons said: "Craig stood in for Dermot on the show last week and it seemed to have sparked an interest with viewers who are now betting on him to land the gig.
"Social media lit up with praise for Doyle as he hosted alongside Alison Hammond which wouldn’t have gone unnoticed with ITV bosses."
And odds have been slashed on Holly Willoughby quitting the ITV show, to 6/4, while the bookies have it at 10/1 that the show will be axed completely.
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FAN FAVOURITE
Doyle filled in on the show alongside Alison Hammond last week, with fans clamouring for him to take over as one of the main hosts.
One fan tweeted: "Craig and Holly Monday to Wednesday, Alison and Holly on a Thursday then Alison and Dermot on a Friday. I have spoken."
Another said: "Can we give Craig Phil’s job please?"
A third posted: "So we're all agreed Craig for the new presenter roll then yeah, aye, yeah? Admit it to yourselves, don't deny him into your life. Embrace The Doyle."
Meanwhile, Schofield has suffered a further blow after Boots pulled the plug on his food range.
The presenter launched a selection of stylish homeware and delicatessen type items with the huge company for Christmas last year.
But Boots decided to stop working with Phil earlier this year and yesterday, removed all trace of his products from their website.
A spokesperson from Boots told us: "We have already planned the majority of our Christmas range for 2023 and it does not include the Phillip Schofield food range. This decision was made at the beginning of the year."
