This Morning host Dermot O’Leary was left very confused at the start of Friday’s show as his co-star disappeared live on-air

This Morning’s Dermot O’Leary was left asking, “Where has she gone?” as his co-star vanished in a live on-air moment.

Dermot and Alison Hammond were at the helm of Friday’s (February 21) episode, walking viewers through the upcoming segments. They teased Rustie Lee’s cooking feature, only for the cameras to reveal an unexpectedly empty kitchen.

“Also on the show today, Rustie is back in the kitchen with a fruity muffin. We can’t wait for this,” Alison enthused.

A bemused Dermot queried, “Where has she gone?” noticing that Rustie had conspicuously disappeared, having just been by the oven seconds ago.

This Morning

Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond presented This Morning on Friday (February 21) (Image: ITV)

Alison cleared up the confusion, saying Rustie stepped away to dispose of some sticks they had used in an early dance routine during the show, reports Wales Online.

“Why did we give her the sticks? We’ve got to keep the puppy in the basket with Rustie. No reason for her to leave at all,” mused Dermot, while Alison began detailing Rustie’s upcoming muffin-making segment.

“But listen, let me tell you about her muffins, they’re gorgeous. They’re fruity muffins, they’re absolutely delicious. If we know Rustie, we know that she is going to put every single ingredient possible into these muffins, but they’re going to be beautiful. She is getting rid of the sticks, but these are the muffins and they are absolutely delicious,” Alison continued.

Still bewildered, Dermot remarked: “Genuinely no reason for her to leave the studio, she was there… She’s here to do the muffins. I’m now fascinated where Rustie is… Get back on the television.”

This Morning

This Morning guest chef Rustie Lee disappeared live on-air (Image: ITV)

The show’s viewers rapidly vented their displeasure on X (formerly known as Twitter), with one exclaiming: “SHAMBLES!!” and another quipping: “She’s probably just having a s***.”

In other segments of the programme, Dermot and Alison chatted with a gentleman who has decided to cryogenically freeze his family post-mortem in hopes of a future reunion.

Additionally, Phil Vickery and David Domoney broadcasted live from This Morning’s allotment, dishing out sage advice for cultivating spring vegetables at home.

And in the run-up to Britain’s Got Talent’s eagerly awaited Saturday comeback (February 22), former victors Paul Potts, George Sampson, and Sydnie Christmas are slated to grace the ITV studio, reminiscing about their journeys on the acclaimed series.