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Josie Gibson shares her thoughts on Olivia Attwood’s latest presenting role on This Morning amid huge backlash by trolls as some threaten to boycott show

Josie Gibson has hit back at trolls in defence of Olivia Attwood after she became the victim of cruel jibes following her new presenting role on This Morning. Fans of the ITV daytime TV show have even threatened to boycott the show reportedly due to her rise to fame from Love Island, in 2017.

The 34 year old TV personality, who has since gone on to be a panellist on Loose Women and host her own podcast, had appeared on the third series of the reality TV show. But Olivia is not the first person to have a reality TV background, so too has Josie Gibson, Alison Hammond and Rylan Clark.

Both women were on Big Brother and Rylan shot to fame from X Factor. So it’s perhaps understandable why Josie, 40, has decided to break her silence. It comes after it was announced that Olivia had landed yet another huge TV job.

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In an interview with The Sun, the mum of one who appeared on Big Brother in 2010, said: “Oh my God she’s brilliant. It’s brilliant she gets to do this and I think she’s really good. Yeah, really good. Honestly, you get some backlash like that in this industry and I really don’t know why people do it.”

She added: “I’ll never understand why people do it, you know. To me, I’ve always loved to see people do well and I genuinely love it. I love it when people succeed and I want to bring everybody up and make sure everybody has a go on the horses, do you know what I mean? “

While on This Morning to discuss her new TV show The Price of Perfection in June, Olivia revealed her news to hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shepherd.

Engineering the conversation, Ben told the former Love Island star “We’ve got some big news about This Morning and you in the summer.”

In response Olivia said: “I have some news yes, it’s very exciting. I’ll be joining you guys on the hosting team on the other side of the sofa.”

The TV duo then gestured for Olivia to sit on their side of the sofa to “feel what it’s like.”

Getting up to switch her seat, the newbie said: “This is even more surreal.”

Complimenting the new addition to the presenting team, Cat said: “We look amazing together.” And this prompted Olivia to ask Cat: “Shall we do a show together?”

The Loose Women panellist add more detail to her announcement as she said: “So it’s a couple of shows, I’m very excited, it’s a huge honour. I’ve grown up watching this show, and being part of the ITV presenting team with Loose Women has been a great experience so this just feels like a very natural progression.”

Olivia was brought in to replace Ben and Cat when they take time off for their six week holiday.

But her new role divided fans. One person wrote: “So Attwood is going to be co-hosting #ThisMorning over the summer. FFS like we don’t get enough of her on #Loosewomen, surprised they haven’t asked that talentless Sam Thompson to step in as well!”

Another added: “How many more viewers do they want to lose? Attwood joining the team is really poor decision.”

A third said: “Just when you think the presenters can’t get any worse they decide to take on Olivia Attwood.”

Meanwhile a fourth penned: “Well done … That’s another step downhill for this show! I wonder who else will be hosting over the summer?”

But not everyone thought her inclusion was a bad idea. One fan of the ITV show wrote: “It’s great that Olivia Attwood will be a presenter on This Morning, she’ll be fantastic.”

And a second said: “Love Olivia, will definitely be tuning in.”

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A LOVE Island star furiously hit back at claims Megan was flirting with Tommy outside the villa.

The Irish star returned to the ITV2 dating show after previously being dumped.

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While she initially coupled up with Tommy, she later moved on to hunky rugby player Conor.

However, fellow returnee Blu introduced new drama into the couple’s dynamic.

He told Conor how Megan had been flirting with Tommy during her time away from the villa.

In addition, how she had allegedly been annoyed seeing Tommy move on with Casa bombshell Lucy.

Taking to TikTok, former Love Island star Jessy Potts has hit back at the claims.

She said in a video: “Why is Blu getting involved about the outside and Megan being annoyed about Tommy.

“I went on that trip with Irish Meg and she was talking about Conor the entire time.

“Blu, why are you in here babe? Go home.”

Meanwhile, Jessy soon got her wish – as Blu and Helena were axed in a brutal dumping.

Their exits immediately followed the Love Island talent show – which saw all Islanders take part.

Helena won for her air hostess-inspired “No Good Airlines” routine, which took playful jabs at her co-stars.

One viewer wrote on X: “Helena being dumped right after winning the talent show ?? …. these producers.”

Another penned: “Producers making Meg read out that Helena was dumped.”

A third chimed in: “helena and blu being dumped looks like i’m going to be watching aftersun tor the first time this season.”

Love Island airs on ITV2 and ITVX.

Harrison Solomon was met with backlash over his love triangle with Toni Laites and Lauren Wood on the new series of Love Island, and he’s now addressed it following his departure

Former Love Island star Harrison Solomon has addressed the backlash that he received from viewers. The islander had been criticised by fans amid a love triangle with his co-stars Toni Laites and Lauren Wood whilst in the villa.

Harrison, 22, attracted attention on the ITV2 show for what he described as a “back-and-forth” between his connections with Toni, 24, and Lauren, 26. This included him sleeping with Lauren while estranged from Toni and then encouraging Toni to choose him at the next recoupling.

After recoupling with Toni, footballer Harrison ended up continuing to pursue things with Lauren more recently. Lauren was dumped from the villa last week by the actions of a bombshell and Harrison later left to reunite with her.

During his time on the show, Harrison faced criticism from viewers. And last week, amid his stint on Love Island, a spokesperson for Women’s Aid issued a statement to the Tab, which included mention of women being “lied to, slut-shamed and manipulated, as well as laughed at behind their backs.”

Harrison has now addressed the “backlash” in an interview with the Daily Mail, saying he has found it “hard to digest”. He told the outlet: “I would disagree with a lot of it in terms of my respect for women, I do respect women.”

He said that the “worst” reaction had been from Women’s Aid. He said: “I know myself and the girls on the show too, Toni said she knows I’m not a bad person, just went about situations in the wrong way, but the Women’s Aid statement wasn’t nice … it’s not nice coming out of the villa to my mum upset by that so I would say that’s been the hardest.”

Harrison said that he is “sorry” to the women that he has “hurt,” before saying that he “got it wrong”. He added that the “back and forth” between his connections with Lauren and Toni ended up causing “more harm” than he intended. He however said that it wasn’t “an ego thing”.

The former islander said he isn’t proud of the way he handled things in the villa and won’t “make excuses”. Harrison said that he just wants to “own it” and assured: “If people can give me the space to grow from it, I will do everything I can to be better, and that’s the only thing I can do.”

Harrison added that there’s “no handbook” for dealing with being on a reality TV show like Love Island, which is based on “instincts” and “intentions”. He told the outlet that whilst he got “some of it right,” he also “got a lot of it wrong”.

It’s been suggested that the statement by Women’s Aid particularly upset Harrison due to his relationship with his mother and younger sister. He told the outlet that he prides himself on “standing up for women,” as well as being a “protector,” but is “disappointed” over how he handled himself in the villa.

His comments come just days after viewers saw Harrison quit the show, a day after Lauren was dumped from the villa. Shortly before his departure from the villa, a tearful Harrison had apologised to Toni.

He told her before leaving: “I want you to know that I genuinely am sorry for the way that I’ve treated you in here. […] I think with me being indecisive in here and trying to spare people’s feelings, I feel like I’ve hurt yours more.”

Harrison said: “Deep down, you know I’ve got a good heart but I’ve just not gone about things the right way in here.” Toni went on tell Harrison: “I know you’re not a bad person but you’ve got a big head and you treated me like s**t repeatedly.” He replied: “I know, I’m sorry for that.”

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