Olivia Attwood has admitted she ‘breathed a sigh of relief’ after winning over the ‘tough’ This Morning audience with her hosting debut.

At the age of 34, the former Love Island celebrity has been nicknamed ‘the new Holly Willoughby’ by her fans, due to her impressive stint as a host on the ITV daytime series over the summer.

In a conversation with Daily Mail, Olivia confessed that the initial minutes of her premiere episode felt like a blur. She recalled the emotional moment when she first heard the iconic theme music of the show right before stepping onto the set.

Olivia has teamed up with Nationwide to introduce Nationfried, a temporary café offering breakfast and financial advice to students in celebration of the bank’s FlexStudent account.

During her time co-hosting This Morning with Dermot O’Leary over the summer break, Olivia hinted she might be considered for hosting duties again in the future.

Reflecting on her debut, she said: ‘It’s really surreal. What I feel like the first segment up to the first ad break was a blur. 

Olivia Attwood revealed she felt a sense of relief after managing to win over the demanding This Morning audience during her first hosting role (pictured with her co-presenter Dermot O’Leary).

She described hearing that legendary theme song while standing beside veteran broadcaster Dermot O’Leary, and how reaching the first commercial break without any mishaps allowed her to relax and gain confidence, thinking, “Now I can breathe, I’ve got this, I know what I’m doing.”

‘I mean I knew what I was doing because I’ve done a lot of live TV at this point, and we do screen tests, but you kind of take that deep breathe and go ”yeah it’s going to be fine!”

Olivia received a hugely positive reception from daytime fans when she fronted the show, with the star admitting she embraced the reaction, as the audience can be tricky to win over.

She added: ‘That was really nice! Daytime viewers, it can be a tough audience and what you want is when you announce your names on breakfast shows,you want the audience to get behind you, and I definitely feel like they did. 

‘I had such a lovely reaction from the press and from viewers, it’s just a big sigh of relief, I think for everyone as well! You know the bosses are happy, it’s a really nice feeling.’

The star previously shared that she finds it ‘complementary’ to be compared to Holly, who hosted This Morning for 14 years before quitting in 2023. 

She also told Daily Mail earlier this month that discussions have begun to make her a more permanent fixture on the show.

Olivia said: ‘There are a few of the presenters I would love to host alongside but it was such a good fit between me and Dermot, we really enjoyed working together.

The former Love Island star has been branded ‘the new Holly Willoughby ‘ by fans after she impressed by presenting the ITV daytime mainstay over the summer

Olivia admitted that the first few minutes of her debut episode are still ‘a blur’, after hinting earlier this month she’s in talks to become a permanent fixture on the show

‘This Morning have expressed interest in me being more of a permanent fixture, it’s just a case of when that is. My schedule is insane and they have hosts in slot so it’s when those slots present themselves. Hopefully we will see more of me there.’ 

Olivia’s schedule has been more jam-packed than ever, as she’s been in Las Vegas filming the fourth series of Getting Filthy Rich, while her dating show Bad Boyfriends, which reached its dramatic conclusion on Thursday, has also dominated screens.

Viewers have been aghast at some of the behaviour from the partners taking part in the show, which can be streamed on ITVX, with Olivia admitting that some moments have left even her feeling ‘uncomfortable.’

She said: ‘I wouldn’t want to single anyone out but there’s moments that have been more uncomfortable than others, as there was last year too. 

‘I think the reason the show is so, it’s so fun, but it’s also so powerful, is that it holds a candle up to behaviour that some of these guys think is normal.’

Nationwide has partnered with Olivia to raise awareness of its new FlexStudent account and its tasty perks, including £100 free cash and £120 of Just Eat vouchers in time for Freshers Week. 

The NationFried experience took over a London cafe last week and has hit the road this week dishing up free breakfast to Freshers in Cardiff, Manchester and Glasgow. 

Nationwide has partnered with Olivia, and social media star Joe Baggs, to raise awareness of its new FlexStudent account and its tasty perks

The star admitted grew up with an ‘open narrative’ around money, and entered the world of work when she was just 15

Olivia admitted that while she didn’t go to university herself, she grew up with an ‘open narrative’ around money, and entered the world of work when she was just 15. 

She said: ‘We always had quite an open narrative in my household around saving, and managing money. 

‘Obviously that’s not always the case in everyone’s family, so few resources are available to you. Building societies like Nationwide, they have information out there.

‘Accounts like the Flex Student account can really help, and I’d just try and educate yourself around money as much as you possibly can, because there is so much information out there and don’t be afraid of it. 

‘I think a lot of things are designed to look scary and intimidating, but knowledge is power when it comes to money and finances.

‘I have always been financially motivated, and I always had this desire to have my own money, have the freedom that comes with money, and I always equated money to freedom and in so many ways it is. I think it’s something I’d always yearned for from quite a young age.’