Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford stepped down from This Morning and were replaced by Alison and Dermot

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford will be removed from their weekly This Morning slot after 14 years, to be replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.

The husband and wife duo, who have hosted Friday’s show together since 2006, are said to be “furious and upset” at the move.

But in a host shakeup, the couple will be assigned the job of hosting the main show for six weeks over summer break, when lead hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby take a break.

Hammond, a 45-year-old mother of one, has been part of the This Morning “family” for years as a roving reporter and is a firm favorite with fans.

She and former X Factor host O’Leary, 47, have previously been paired as backup presenters, most recently last month, and the bosses have been very impressed by their chemistry.

“They have a real warmth,” said a source. “It’s time for a change and they are perfect.

“Eamonn is quite furious and everyone is sorry for him and Ruth, they are very loved in the team, but sometimes you have to make difficult decisions.”

Eamonn, 60, has confided in recent weeks that he feared he was too “pale, stale and masculine” for ITV’s award-winning show, which has drawn criticism for not having enough diversity among hosts.

Earlier this summer, ITV Executive Director Carolyn McCall announced a Diversity Acceleration Plan after the channel was criticized for having an entire day with a single non-white face.

Holmes also left bosses furious earlier this year when Ofcom struck him down for “misjudged” comments about conspiracy theories surrounding 5G masts spreading the coronavirus.

The watchdog said its comments, in which it said mainstream media should not automatically reject such claims, “run the risk of undermining viewers’ trust in the advice of public authorities and scientific evidence.”

Ruth, also 60, is expected to remain on Loose Women, where internal research has shown that she continues to be very popular with viewers.

The changes, brought about by the head of the show, Martin Frizell, following comments from the regular audience, are expected to begin in the New Year.

Hammond, who found fame on Big Brother and is known for her fun approach, got the job of guest editing the entire show for one day last month.

Before her takeover, which she co-hosted with O’Leary, she told fans that there would only be lighthearted elements to her day in charge.

“It will be a joy!” said. “There will be nothing about the confinement or the coronavirus.

“There will be a lot of recipes and food … and maybe a bit of fashion and fun. It’s going to be great and I’m excited to be the boss.”

Dermot has been on a loose path after his main job on X Factor ended last year when the show was suspended indefinitely by ITV, following disastrous ratings in 2019 despite several attempts to update the format.

There are no current plans for his return.

Since the decision was made, Simon Cowell walked away from his record label Syco Music, which traditionally signed the winning act.

Dermot and Alison are expected to finalize their new contracts in the coming weeks.