INVERCLYDE TV star Jean Johansson has set her sights on claiming the hot seat on a popular morning show following the shock departure of its previous host.

The Port Glasgow-raised presenter, best known for her role on Channel 4's A Place in the Sun, has already landed a spot on ITV's This Morning - and the 41-year-old has opened up on her ambitions to lead the show in the wake of Holly Willoughby's exit.

Jean sent 'all the love and support' to her colleague last week, who she described as the 'absolute queen of daytime TV', when it was announced that Holly would be leaving This Morning after 14 years for personal reasons.

And in an interview with showbiz magazine OK!, due to be published tomorrow, Jean said she hopes that this is just 'the start' of her career on the ITV mid-morning show. Jean fronted a competition slot on the show live from Gourock Pool this summer.

She added: "I've been really honest about my ambitions to get on the sofa one day and I'm one step closer.

"Everyone has been supportive and that's not always the case in TV."

She also told the magazine she was 'banging on This Morning's door for years', in order to get her job, adding: "I'm now the proud competition host. I just knew it was meant to be.

"My first competition was in my home area of Inverclyde. It was a really special moment."