TIME TO HEAL
Holly Willoughby’s bombshell statement on Phil Schofield drama in full as she returns to This Morning
HOLLY Willoughby fought back tears and looked shaken as she delivered a statement about the Phillip Schofield scandal on today's This Morning.
Supported by co-star Josie Gibson, who sat beside her for reassurance, Holly inhaled deeply before delivering her monologue to camera.
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She said: "Right, deep breath. Firstly, are you ok? I hope so.
"It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil and I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have. Shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what's been going on and full of questions.
"All of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process.
"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 for the health and wellbeing of everyone. I hope that as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that the show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.
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"And from the heart, can I just say thank you for all your kind messages and thank you for being here this morning. Myself, Josie, Dermot, Alison, Craig and every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you the show that we love."
After finishing the speech, she was comforted by an emotional Josie who gave her friend a big hug.
Despite Holly's visible discomfort and vulnerability as she finally addressed the situation she has been partially detached from while on a family holiday in Portugal, viewers weren't impressed.
On Twitter there were many claims she'd "thrown Phillip under the bus" and hadn't answered the questions they wanted to know, namely what did or didn't she know in regards to Phillip's affair.
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The TV star has been absent from the set for the past two weeks — during which time her former pal Phillip, 61, came 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 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 vowed not watch Holly’s return to the show because it would be too devastating for him, his pals said.
Despite his support and affection for his former co-star, a friend last night 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 focused on light entertainment topics.
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Queen singer Adam Lambert was interviewed later in the show to celebrate Pride month and the LGBT community.
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