Awkward rumours about Olivia Attwood’s This Morning absence exposed as star enjoys wild summer with new love Pete Wicks

JUST 12 months ago Olivia Attwood was shouting from the rooftops after landing her dream presenting gig on This Morning. But fast forward to this summer and the 35-year-old, who was hailed as the new Holly Willoughby, has been mysteriously absent from the presenting roster during the break. Olivia has been busier than ever with work this year – but has not appeared on This Morning over the summer Credit: OIivia Attwood Instagram The 35-year-old was over the moon when she landed the job hosting This Morning with Dermot O’Leary last summer Credit: Shutterstock The Love Island alumni has spent the summer flying back and forth from Ibiza, and work-wise she has never been busier. However, she hasn’t been back on the This Morning sofa this month. An insider said: “Olivia has had a messy, well-publicised break-up with her husband and moved on with Towie’s Pete Wicks. “There have also been eyebrows raised at what some see as partying, boozing, and general cool-girl antics. “People may think it’s not in keeping with This Morning and their audience, but perfect for Loose Women. “We imagine she’ll be back presenting when everything calms down.” Another source insisted it was simply a question of schedules. ITV have a number of regular hosts who step in for the main presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard over the summer break. Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary kicked off the summer coverage before a number of rotating couples stepped in. Paddy McGuinness and Josie Gibson, Andi Peters and Rochelle Humes and Craig Doyle and Angela Scanlon have all had a go so far. Last summer Olivia joined Dermot O’Leary twice on the show and many thought it was the start of her becoming a regular rotating host. Though she’s not the first reality star to host the show, with fellow summer star and X Factor icon Rylan Clark having already proven a dab hand on set, Olivia’s villa background didn’t go down well with some traditionalist viewers who have gone so far as to say they’ll “definitely stop watching”. At the time Olivia was confident in her abilities and told The Sun she feels she’s earned her stripes to become ITV’s new golden girl. She said: “Those who know me understand the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am today. “I’m forever grateful to Love Island for being the springboard to my career, but I’m excited to show there’s so much more to me beyond the villa.” She continued: “It’s been a lot of hard work, but I’ve always stayed focused on my goals and believed in myself and I’m very thankful for ITV in believing me.” The broadcaster is certainly a huge fan and has aired a number of her hugely successful show – she’s had a string of self-titled recommissions of Olivia Attwood Getting Filthy Rich, Olivia Attwood: The Price of Perfection and Olivia Attwood’s Bad Boyfriends. Olivia has been enjoying a summer of fun in Ibiza Credit: Instagram The star’s new romance with Pete Wicks has also been a talking point Credit: Getty And when it comes to This Morning, Olivia had hoped to follow in Holly Willoughby’s footsteps. A TV insider explained: “Despite Olivia and Holly being wildly different on the surface, they share a relentless drive and ambition to be at the top of their career. “Since Holly stepped back from This Morning and Dancing on Ice was put on hold, ITV has been looking for their next golden girl. “Olivia has that natural self-deprecating humour and admirable spirit about her that resonates with viewers.” And after Olivia landed a deal with Garnier, the comparisons just kept on coming. Olivia’s marriage to Bradley Dack came crashing down at the start of this year Credit: Instagram Olivia has been letting her hair down since her split Credit: Instagram But unlike Holly who mostly keeps her private life under wraps, Olivia is more than happy to pose in her bra online, boast about hangovers, get random tattoos and snog her new boyfriend. Our insider added: “Olivia has a huge fan base who love watching her having fun and a laugh but that isn’t necessarily the people who watch This Morning. “She has no interest in presenting a perfect image and why should she? She’s only human, her marriage didn’t work out and she’s having fun.” And she’s certainly not planning to slow down work-wise any time soon. In a recent interview she admitted: “The dream would be for this [current work situation] to continue for the next decade. “I have big aspirations for the podcast – I want to take it into live events – and for my drinks brand to live alongside my TV career.” We imagine she’ll be mixing some pleasure in there, too.