Capital DJ-turned-This Morning presenter Sian Welby has branded her first stint in the ITV presenter's seat as an "incredible whirlwind" following Monday's show.
After a rollercoaster few months which has seen a rotating roster of presenters front the ITV show after Holly Willoughby's exit, Monday, January 22 marked the first time Welby oversaw proceedings.
She joins a long list of TV personalities who've fronted This Morning since Willoughby's exit, including Mollie King, Rochelle Humes, Josie Gibson, Emma Willis, Alison Hammond and many more.
But within moments of introducing herself to viewers on Monday morning, fans quickly became distracted.
Several claimed ITV had hired a Willoughby "clone" due to Welby's manner and appearance upon stepping in front of the This Morning cameras for the first time.
On X, formerly Twitter, one fan sarcastically made the point: "Someone is obsessed with Holly lookalikes on this show...#thismorning."
Sian Welby (right) took over presenting duties on Monday
ITV
A second weighed in: "So is this presenter supposed to be a Holly who-is-me or the Saturdays girl? #thismorning."
While a third hit out: "This new woman is doing the most… just find any blonde woman with blue eyes and that's the job done #thismorning."
"Sian and when Molly presented both just seem like holly clones #thismorning," added a fourth while another said: "Sian Welby another middle-class stand-in presenter on #ThisMorning this is absolutely ridiculous now ffs."
However, there was still plenty of support for Welby's debut stint, with members of the fandom branding her "genuine" and calling for her spot to be made permanent.
Dermot O'Leary and Sian Welby fronted This Morning together on Monday
ITV/SHUTTERSTOCK
"I don’t know who this new presenter is but she is one of the most genuine I’ve seen, hope she becomes a permanent part of the team #thismorning," one fan argued.
A second agreed: "@thismorning The new girl is doing very well indeed in my opinion, she should get a regular position on the show #thismorning #newpresenter."
And a third echoed: "She’s really good!! I like Sian as a presenter. She is GREAT! #thismorning." (sic)
Soon after the show and the divisive reception, Welby issued her own statement about her time alongside O'Leary.
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"Well I’m never gonna forget today! What an incredible whirlwind," Welby said in an Instagram post.
She continued: "From feeding a hungover Kevin Hart hash browns and a Bloody Mary, to doing an Irish Jig live in heels, to chatting about the recent outbreak of measles…I feel like I truly got the @thismorning experience!!
"Huge thanks to Dermot and the This Morning team for looking after me from start to finish. Yes I was absolutely bricking it, but I felt so welcome and supported by the team that it made it such a fun experience! I still can’t believe I actually did it.
"For all those who sent me a little supportive message, thanks so much, it means a lot."
Welby will be back presenting This Morning for the rest of the week.
