HOLLY RETURNS
Tense Holly Willoughby returns to This Morning for first time since Phillip Schofield scandal amid fears she’d quit
TENSE Holly Willoughby has returned to This Morning for the first time since Phillip Schofield's shock exit.
The presenter returned from her £8million holiday villa in Portugal to front the crisis-hit show and address the scandal.
5
5
5
Flanked by her stand-in co-host Josie Gibson, Holly put on a brave face to address Phillip's exit in a specially prepared statement at the beginning of today's show.
"Josie, thank you for being here," Holly said as she held her co-host's hand.
"Right, deep breath.
"Firstly, are you OK? I hope so. It feels very strange indeed not being here with Phillip.
READ MORE ON THIS MORNING
"I imagine you might have been feeling a lot like I have. Shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the well-being of people from all sides of what's been going on and full of quesitons.
"You me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who they themselves felt they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved.
"That's a lot to process and it's equally hard to see the toll it's taken on their own mental health.
"I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal and the health and well-being for everyone.
Most read in TV
"I hope as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, then we can find strength in each other.
"From my heart thank you for all of the kind messages. Thank you for being here this morning."
Holly has been absent from the set for the past two weeks — during which time her former pal, 61, has come clean about his affair with a much younger ITV runner.
Phillip, who was married at the time, branded the relationship "unwise but not illegal".
He insisted to The Sun in an exclusive interview that Holly did not know about his affair.
He said: “I’ve lost my best friend. Holly did not know. And she was one of the first texts that I sent to say ‘I am so, so sorry, that I lied to you.’”
A shattered Phillip will reportedly not watch Holly’s return to the show today because it will be too devastating for him, his pals say.
Despite his support and affection for his former co-star, a friend tonight said: “He physically could not watch — he's not there yet.
“Even listening to the opening credits would be hugely triggering.
“His family is being incredibly careful not to have the TV on when he’s in the room to ensure he doesn’t see anything.
“Of course he is aware Holly is back on air today and he absolutely wanted her to shine, and smash it.
“But he physically could not watch — he is not there yet.”
Nervy Holly returned from her holiday in Portugal over the weekend to face the cameras for the first time since the scandal broke.
A source said ahead of her return: “Holly is naturally nervous about this and is being supported by This Morning.
“Speaking about Phil and what has happened is not going to be easy and emotions are running high.
“Holly is a consummate professional but this will arguably be one of the toughest things she has ever had to do in her television career.”
Sources previously told how Holly had been working on what she would want to say for some time.
The insider added: “The show is braced for tears and Holly is getting support from the team.
“Everyone is rooting for her and knows this is incredibly difficult.”
The Sun on Sunday yesterday exclusively revealed that Holly was preparing to make an emotional statement.
Following her statement today's programme will focus on light entertainment topics.
Queen singer Adam Lambert will be interviewed later in the show to celebrate Pride month and the LGBT community.
Phone-ins involving the public will be heavily vetted by production staff to filter out any attempted viewer outbursts over the scandal.
And interaction segments where viewers send in pictures and social media posts are being paused to avoid the risk of any abuse being targeted at the presenters.
Later in the week, Holly will be joined by Irish presenter Craig Doyle, while Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary will be back for their usual slot on Friday.
Holly's much-anticipated return comes after speculation she would follow in Phillip's footsteps by quitting.
Fans were convinced she had left the show while holidaying her £8m Algarve villa.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Even former This Morning host Eamonn Holmes predicted she wouldn't be seen on the sofa again.
It was also reported she is in talks to quit ITV for the BBC following the recent upset on This Morning.
5
5
Topics