Molly Qerim makes First Take return as ESPN show is back on air but fans wonder ‘where’s Stephen A. Smith?’

MOLLY Qerim was back in her rightful place at the head of the First Take table on Thursday.

But there was still no sign of Stephen A. Smith with the ESPN star still on vacation.

ESPN

Instagram/mollyqerim

ESPN

First Take returned from a three-day hiatus to begin the week.

The show aired on ESPN2, as it did all last week , due to Wimbledon coverage on the main channel.

Qerim missed all of last week on vacation but made her set return Thursday.

Smith, meanwhile, was still away from studio as was planned by show bosses.

But fans were hopeful of seeing Smith back in the hot seat alongside Qerim.

One wrote, “Where the hell is Stephen A. Smith and why is he still not back on First Take?

“Doesn’t he know he’s why I’m here?”

In Smith’s absence, Molly was joined in studio by Harry Douglas and Courtney Cronin.

Qerim showed off her outfit choice for her First Take return the previous night.

She posted a picture of her grey sleeveless blazer, black skirt and heels on Instagram.

And Molly added the caption, “Picking out my outfit like it’s the first day of school.

“First Take, see you in the AM.”

The host has been off air since the beginning of last week taking a well-earned summer break.

First Take was bumped to ESPN2 last week to make way for live Wimbledon coverage on the main channel.

And that meant Qerim and Smith headed on vacation following a long NBA season and ahead of NFL kicking off again.

Molly Qerim's life in the spotlight

Molly Qerim has risen through the ranks to become one of the biggest stars at ESPN.

The popular sports host began her media career in 2006 with ESPN and spent four years with the network.

She then covered college basketball and football for CBS Sports Network in New York.

Qerim balanced that with hosting duties for NFL Network in Los Angeles – fronting NFLAM and NFL Fantasy Live.

The host returned to ESPN in 2015 and immediately took the role of First Take anchor.

And Qerim has been an ever-present, popular host of the daily sports debate show ever since.

The show was taken off air completely at the beginning of this week.

Both ESPN and ESPN2 were showing live coverage from Wimbledon as the tournament reached the business end.

And bosses took the decision to remove First Take from schedules rather than air it on another of ESPN’s stable of channels.

Qerim has now returned to air despite the program still being on ESPN2 until Monday.

Her return was announced this week, and she sent a message to her fans on Instagram as well.

“See you later in the week,” Qerim wrote.

Christine Williamson filled in as First Take host for most of last week while Qerim was off.