Alison Hammond was forced to apologise to ITV viewers after co-host Dermot O’Leary branded her “a b****” live on air in Monday morning’s instalment of This Morning.

The duo are stepping in for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby during the summer months.

Dermot seemed to lash out after Alison poked fun at his career during a Big Brother segment.

Around half an hour into the show, Alison reunited with former housemate Kate Lawler.

Dermot surprised Alison with a throwback clip and said: "Let's have a quick look at you and Kate in this iconic moment in the Big Brother house."

The footage showed Dermot presenting spin-off show Big Brother's Little Brother.

Alison joked: "Look at you with a bald head, you should so go back to that bald head! Why don't you shave your head? Look how fit you look!"

Dermot laughed before responding: "Call my wife now and see if she'd like me to shave my hair off. See how well that one goes down!"

Alison said: "How do you feel when you see yourself like that?"

She added: "You were so young, you were so good at that show, really good."

Laughing Dermot joked: “Just that show?” before taking a sip of his water and muttering: “Such a b****!”.

Struggling to hold back laughter, a shocked Alison said: "Oooooh apologies for that language!"

“Oh sorry,” Dermot said as he continued with the show.

This Morning airs at 10pm Monday to Friday on ITV1.