Molly Qerim dazzles in figure-hugging First Take outfit as she returns to ESPN show following unexpected absence

MOLLY Qerim has returned to First Take – and is immediately turning heads with her stunning wardrobe choice.

The 40-year-old ESPN anchor dazzled in a figure-hugging red dress during Wednesday’s edition of the sports debate show.

First Take/ESPN

First Take/ESPN

Instagram @mollyqerim

Qerim missed Tuesday’s broadcast of First Take, leaving colleague Stephen A. Smith in the unfamiliar hosting role.

Molly was back in the hot seat as she welcomed Smith and Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo to ESPN’s Seaport Studios in Manhattan, NYC.

The fan-favorite shared a selfie alongside Russo moments before going on air.

Leaning across the debate table, she showed off her eye-catching look with her 673,000 Instagram followers.

“Good morning!” she captioned the snap.

Molly is known for her bold on-air fashion choices and recently gave fans a sneak peek into her pre-show preparation .

First Take was on the road for a special Fanatics Fest episode last week, with Qerim rocking a long white trench coat and matching tank top.

“The Queen of ESPN,” one viewer dubbed the anchor.

“@MollyQerim damnnnnnn the fit is fitting,” another exclaimed on X.

Stephen A. received a mixed reception as he moved away from his usual lead analyst role to chair Tuesday’s show.

The 56-year-old was jokingly dubbed “a dictator” by fans as he read the riot act to colleagues Bart Scott and Shannon Sharpe.

Smith put in force five rules, including “no cussing” and “only speak when spoken to.”

It immediately led to some fans calling for Qerim to return and restore order.

“Umm, Molly, where you at? They need you they all over the place today… Stephen A. is trying his best but, they missing you,” one frustrated viewer wrote on X.

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.

“Molly, what wrong with you? Please tell me it is a none serious emergency that is why you took a day off. We have to deal with a dictator today,” commented a second.

The U.S. Sun revealed earlier this week First Take is in danger of becoming a “war zone” behind the scenes due to conflicts between cast and crew.

Qerim is playing the role of peacemaker, according to a source who works in production on the show.

“Molly saved a lot of situations that were very tense that could have gotten worse,” says the insider.

“Some tensions could have gotten really bad, and she helped calm them down.

“If she wasn’t here, I don’t know how it would be, probably a war zone because of all those tensions and disagreements.”

First Take airs every weekday on ESPN from 10 am ET.