This Morning will launch a series of new segments in an attempt to keep viewers in good spirits throughout the third UK lockdown, according to reports.
It is thought that the ITV show, which is hosted by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, will soon have live cooking sections filmed in South Africa and Australia.
As well as visiting sunny faraway destinations, which many Brits can only dream of amid strict travel restrictions, the Scottish Highlands is also thought to be featured in the latest addition to the format, reports The Mirror.
Bringing the world to you: This Morning will launch a series of new segments in an attempt to keep viewers in good spirits throughout the third UK lockdown, according to reports (hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield are pictured on Monday’s episode)
Australia and South Africa have been tipped as locations the show will visit, with a safari section also thought to be underway to try and cheer up viewers at home.
Some of the new footage is said to have been captured before lockdown, however parts of the new segments will require local film crews to work on location and abide by any Covid restrictions.
This Morning’s editor Martin Frizell told the publication his show has been a ‘comfort blanket’ for the UK during 2020 and he wants to continue to be a source of support.
He said: ‘We will help to take viewers around the world without leaving their homes.
Changes: As well as a safari section and showing food specials from different countries, the show is also expected to highlight small business providing products (Holly and Phillip pictured on Wednesday)
‘Our viewers deserve to see even more beautiful scenery and enjoy more fun viewing on screen during times like this, and we plan to give them just that.’
As well as looking at travel, the apparent new parts of This Morning will revolve around food and shine a light on small business and producers.
Martin said: ‘I’m keen to help those smaller businesses by sourcing as much as we can from them for our cookery items – that we will be increasing on the show – and giving them a mention where possible.’
MailOnline has contacted ITV for a comment.
There have already been a few changes on This Morning in recent weeks, with Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary making their debut as the new Friday hosts last week, taking over the presenting gig from Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes.
However their start wasn’t without a few on-screen hiccups, with Alison asking guest Graham Norton how his dog was – even though the pooch was dead.
Comedian Graham later clarified on his Virgin radio show on Sunday that he found the gaffe entertaining.
Maiden show: It comes after Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary’s debut as the new Friday hosts of This Morning wasn’t without a few on-screen hiccups last week
No hard feelings: Graham Norton has since made it clear that he wasn’t upset or offended by Alison’s faux pas when she asked how his dog was, despite it being deceased
Saying said: ‘Now, I meant to say this yesterday, big up Alison Hammond she got so much flak for apparently, you know, being insensitive or upsetting me.
‘I did This Morning and she said, oh, how’s your dog? And I said oh it’s dead. And I did it in a deliberate way to be awkward. And it was going to be funny. It was funny.
‘And I think she found it funny. I found it funny. People kind of deliberately misrepresented what happened to kind of, you know, be horrible to her.’
Sure to make sure Alison was not criticised for the blunder, Graham added: ‘So I love Alison Hammond and if there was any awkwardness, it was my fault. I mean, I made it a bad thing.’
The reported new addition to the winning format also comes after ITV shows Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women all achieved their biggest share of viewing since 2009 on December 2.
They had an overall share of 25.3 per cent across the morning, marking an 11-year high.
This Morning, hosted by Phillip and Holly, had its highest share since 2013 while Lorraine had its second highest share of viewing, drawing 29.1 per cent share of viewing.
This was the highest share since 2013, excluding the Royal Wedding of Princess Eugenie of York in October 2018, which aired as a This Morning special.
The episode was watched by an average of 1.5 million overnight viewers, peaking at 1.6 million.
All is well: Sure to make sure Alison was not criticised for the blunder, Graham added: ‘So I love Alison and if there was any awkwardness, it was my fault. I mean, I made it a bad thing’