Andi Peters has praised ITV for ‘getting more black faces on television’ days before his debut on Lorraine.
The TV presenter, 50, is set to take the helm on of the talk show for two weeks from Monday, after being picked for the role by Lorraine Kelly, 60, in July alongside Christine Lampard to front the show during her seasonal break.
Speaking to The Mirror on Saturday, Andi said of being given the role: ‘It’s great they have asked me to do it. I’m chuffed.
Delighted: Andi Peters praised ITV for ‘getting more black faces on television’ on Saturday, as he prepares to take the helm of Lorraine Kelly’s talk show next week
‘It’s a real break from tradition and it’s a great statement from the channel about getting more black faces on television in lead roles as opposed to support roles, which is really important and we mustn’t shy away from that fact.
‘I love Lorraine, I’ve known her for ten years, I’m on her show every day and it’s great to be part of that family. So, sitting in for her is an honour, Lorraine is an institution.’
Following Lorraine’s announcement last month, Andi, who has long presented competition slots on the show, said: ‘I’m looking forward to chatting to people and having a whole hour to actually relax into it. I’m a bit of a chatterbox.
‘I’ll enjoy having guests on, who want to have a bit of a chinwag and also to be able to do some serious stuff. I am happy and jolly, and that will always be there, but obviously I do have an opinion… I’m genuinely really excited.’
Diversity: Meanwhile, amid calls for This Morning to hire permanent non-white stars to present the show, Rochelle Humes (pictured), Ore Oduba and Alison Hammond are now on the rosta
High praise: Andi takes over Lorraine from Monday, and said: ‘It’s a real break from tradition and it’s a great statement from the channel about getting more black faces on television’
Meanwhile, amid calls for This Morning to hire permanent non-white stars to present the show, Rochelle Humes joins Ore Oduba and Alison Hammond on the presenting rosta, while hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield take their summer break.
The new guest presenter lineup comes after The Mail on Sunday revealed that the programme’s editor is seeking to change the line-up to include a permanent black presenter.
In a video conference call with staff last month, the programme’s editor Martin Frizell said: ‘There is not a black presenter on any of the programmes today.
‘We plan to change that, we [This Morning] are looking into it.’ This Morning has never had a main black presenter since it launched 32 years ago.
Presenters: Andi was picked for the role by Lorraine Kelly in July alongside Christine Lampard to front the show during her seasonal break (pictured: Andi and Christine last month)
Hosts with the most: Rochelle has been co-hosting Friday’s This Morning in Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield’s place, and was joined by Ore for several shows
Frizell admitted that finding a black candidate ‘won’t be easy’ and while there is no suggestion that either Holly or Phillip are leaving, there will inevitably be speculation that the move could bring an end to their 11-year partnership on This Morning.
An ITV source said: ‘It’s a tough one for Martin. He appeared to really mean what he said so it will be difficult to simply give the presenter the once-a-week Friday slot because he would leave himself open to claims of tokenism.’
Another show insider said: ‘Kudos to Frizell for being the first ITV boss to pledge to make this happen. What we are all wondering now is, ‘Will anyone go and, if so, who?’ ‘
Last October, The Mail on Sunday revealed that the channel had failed to feature a single non-white main host on its entire daytime schedule, although some supporting presenters were from ethnic minorities.
Great line-up: Fashion correspondent Rochelle and This Morning regular Alison (pictured last month) will also co-host episodes during the summer months
Comeback: Ore previously stood in for Phil in November 2016 and March 2017 (pictured)
In July the Good Morning Britain star interrupted his segment on the show to make an emotional plea to viewers about Black Lives Matter.
The show stalwart took a break from announcing a competition in his home garage to urge fans to continue discussing the movement and insisted he needed to make the plea as ‘one of the only black people on the show’.
He said: ‘I just want to say something as I can, as one of the only black people on this show, it is so important that we all keep talking. It really is. People meet me in the street and ask me how I feel about it.
‘We’ve all started this conversation and one of the best things about Good Morning Britain is that we talk about it – we’re not brushing it under the rug, we’re not tip-toeing around, we are talking about it.
Back again: Rochelle has regularly stood in for Holly in the past, presenting with the likes of Mark Wright and Davina McCall over the years (Rochelle and Davina pictured in August 2019)
Reaching out: In July Andi interrupted his segment on the show to make an emotional plea to viewers about Black Lives Matter
‘Every day on this programme we are talking about it and it’s really important that we do. Every black kid watching right now – you could do this job.
‘Anyway, let me tell you about this prize… Sorry, I felt that I needed to say it. I shouldn’t apologise, I mustn’t apologise – I just wanted to say it.’
Black Lives Matter protests erupted around the world last month after George Floyd was killed in police custody in May.
Ex-police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter after a video surfaced of him crushing 46-year-old Floyd’s neck with his knee in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Reaching out: The show stalwart took a break from announcing a competition in his home garage to urge fans to continue discussing the movement and insisted he needed to make the plea as ‘one of the only black people on the show’