Christine Bleakley to make six-part holiday special AND join Phillip Schofield on This Morning

Thrilled Christine Bleakley is to make a prime-time travel show for ITV followed by a stint on This Morning.

The presenter, whose previous ITV morning show Daybreak with Adrian Chiles was a ratings flop, will film the six-part holiday special in autumn.

Then she will stand in during the second half of Holly Willoughby’s maternity leave from This Morning early next year, reports the Mirror.

Christine, 35, is seizing a golden chance to revive her career after the embarrassing Daybreak debacle.

But her new role will come at a cost as she and fiancé Frank Lampard will be 3,000 miles apart.

The England and Chelsea player, 36, is expected to sign for New York City football team.

A source close to Christine said: “It has been a tough journey for her. But she is determined to make this work and get her career back on track.”

Amanda Holden, 43, was unveiled as the first stand-in host for Holly.

Amanda will cover for Holly, 33, from September.

But Christine is expected to move on to the sofa in January, when Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda resumes auditions.

The source said: “Christine, Frank and those who work with her are delighted there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“She has got a golden opportunity to resurrect her career.

“It’s been a hard slog to get to where she is so she won’t sacrifice that by moving to the States.

"Instead she will go out for weekends. Her view is that it’s only six hours on an aeroplane.”

Frank and Christine, who have been dating for four years, are expected to get married this autumn.

This Morning’s Phillip Schofield, 52, who presented three series of ITV’s Dancing On Ice with Christine, has been pushing for her to join him on the sofa.

This Morning, ITV, Mon-Fri, 10.30am.

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