Dermot O’Leary leaned over and BIT his co-star Christine Lampard live on air as they hosted This Morning together on Wednesday morning.

The TV stars were discussing what was coming up on the latest instalment of the ITV daytime show when Dermot, 52, turned to bite Christine, 46, on the shoulder.

The host, who normally presents on Fridays alongside Alison Hammond, is standing in for Ben Shephard this week as he and Cat Deeley take a break.

Dermot was due to be joined this week by fan favourite Emma Willis, but due to last minute illness, has instead co-hosted alongside Josie Gibson and Christine.

At the opening of the show on Wednesday, Dermot and Christine took it in turns to reveal to audiences at home what would be coming up.

Revealing Red Eye stars Jing Lusi and Lesley Sharp would soon be taking to the studio, they went on to detail how there would be a ‘Christmas shopping’ segment later on in the show.

+7
View gallery

Dermot O’Leary leaned over and BIT his co-star Christine Lampard live on air as they hosted This Morning together on Wednesday morning

+7
View gallery

The TV stars were discussing what was coming up on the latest instalment of the ITV daytime show when Dermot, 52, turned to bite Christine, 46, on the shoulder

Christine said: ‘If you still need a last minute Christmas gift, Steve Wilson is here…’

As the camera panned across the studio, it showed tables packed with gifting ideas -and when it cropped back to Dermot and Christine, he bit her on the shoulder.

‘I know, it’s stressful,’ Christine reacted, brushing off the bite, as Steve showed off a ‘stress ball’ toy saying: ‘This will relieve a bit of stress as well.’

Turning towards Dermot, Christine joked: ‘There you have it,’ to which Dermot replied: ‘A member of the team would really appreciate that right now…’

It comes after This Morning viewers were left shocked when Dermot was told to ‘stop interrupting’ his co-star Alison, 50, as they were live on air.

The presenters acknowledged that is was Black Friday during the show, and introduced bargain deals for what’s known as ‘white goods’ – such as fridges and air fryers – were up for grabs.

This led to a cheer from the off camera crew and in response, as Dermot joked: ‘You can’t cheer for white goods!’

Alison replied: ‘No, I like it’ which led Dermot to repeat: ‘You can’t cheer it’.

+7
View gallery

At the opening of the show on Wednesday, Dermot and Christine took it in turns to reveal to audiences at home what would be coming up on the show.

+7
View gallery

As the camera panned across the studio, it showed tables packed with gifting ideas -and when it cropped back to Dermot and Christine, he bit her on the shoulder

When the crew cheered for Black Friday again, the former X Factor host said: ‘No, no, you suckers! Taken in with the whole thing!’

Defending Black Friday, Alison said: ‘You need to take it seriously though because sometimes you can get a bargain and sometimes you don’t.

Dermot responded: ‘I am not moaning, I made out like a bandit on cat food this week. Oh, my guy is going to be so happy.’

Alison then went to continue, but Dermot was still joking around, prompting her to say to him: ‘Are you going to let me finish?’

Earlier this week, Emma Willis’ appearance on This Morning was cancelled on Monday just hours before she was due on air, as it was revealed the star was unwell and unable to join Dermot.

Taking to screens on the breakfast programme, Dermot and Josie, 40, were joined by a Christmas choir from the primary school attended by Emma, 49.

But the duo were quick to reveal that the Love Is Blind host would not be appearing this week as planned due to a last minute illness.

Dermot said: ‘Look who is back with me, it’s only miss Josie Gibson. Lovely to have you,’ to which Josie replied: ‘Thanks for having me!’

+7
View gallery

Emma Willis’ appearance on This Morning was cancelled on Monday, as it was revealed the star was unwell and unable to join co-star Dermot O’Leary (pictured with fellow This Morning star Rylan Clark)

+7
View gallery

Dermot, 52, was joined by fellow ITV host Josie Gibson , as Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard take a break from screens in the run up to Christmas

‘For for disclosure, Emma was supposed to be with us this week, but Emma is feeling a little bit poorly,’ Dermot continued, blowing a kiss at the camera.

‘Sending her big love – and that was Emma’s primary school, as well,’ Dermot continued, as Josie added: ‘Get well soon!’

It was not revealed what illness stopped Emma from taking to screens, and Daily Mail have contacted Emma’s representatives for comment.

It will no doubt come as a disappointment to fans, who previously begged for Emma to become a permanent fixture on This Morning after appearing as a co-host on the show alongside Rylan Clark.