This Morning’s Dr Ranj shares cryptic post about being ‘a voice for those who can’t speak’ as Holly Willoughby returns
THIS Morning’s Dr Ranj Singh shared a cryptic post about being ‘a voice for those who can’t speak’ as Holly Willoughby returned to the show on Monday.
The TV doctor, 43, took to Instagram over the weekend to mark Pride Month - after slamming the "toxic" culture of bullying on the ITV show.
He wrote, 'Be authentic. Be unapologetic. Be brave. Be safe. Be honest. Be an ally to those who need it.
"Be the voice for those who can't speak. Be the best person you can be. Be kind. Be you."
The star previously told fans he had thought “long and hard” about opening up on his experiences at This Morning, but was desperate to “clarify” what happened.
As the row over Phillip Schofield's affair left the daytime programme in crisis, Dr Ranj claimed he “raised concerns” about Phillip and show producer Martin Frizell before being used “less and less” as a guest.
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Just a day after his latest post, Holly returned to This Morning for the first time since Phillip's shock exit.
The presenter returned from her £8million holiday villa in Portugal to front the crisis-hit show and address the scandal.
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.
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"Right, deep breath.
"Firstly, are you OK? I hope so. It feels very strange indeed not being here with Phillip.
"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.
"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.
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“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.
