Holly Willoughby swiftly shirked scandal just moments after delivering her statement about former friend Phillip Schofield on Monday’s This Morning.
The star opened the show by delivering a speech in which she referenced her long-time pal and co-host’s affair revelation, before she then joined co-host Josie Gibson in throwing herself into a workout segment showing them lifting weights.
The duo welcomed the show’s resident health and fitness advisor Simon Waterson to help get them ‘summer ready’, in which he handed them weights and Holly voiced concern over the ladies’ dresses popping open.
The cheeky moment was a stark contrast to the show opening, in which the host, 42, told This Morning’s viewers ‘we gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth’ as she returned to the show for the first time since Phillip’s exit.
Phillip left the show after admitting to an extramarital affair – which he branded ‘ill-advised by not illegal – with a colleague last month.
Cheeky! Holly Willoughby shirked scandal just moments after delivering her statement on Phillip Schofield on Monday’s This Morning
Ha! Just moments after delivering a speech in which she referenced her long-time pal and co-host’s affair revelation, she joined co-host Josie Gibson in throwing herself into a workout segment in which they lifted weights
Shock: The cheeky moment was a stark contrast to the show opening, in which the host, 42, told This Morning’s viewers ‘we gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth’ as she returned to the show for the first time since Phillip’s exit
He described his relationship with the younger colleague as ‘ill-advised but not illegal’, and insisted Holly was not aware of the affair. In an interview last week, he said Holly was ignoring his messages apologising and pleading for forgiveness.
In her full statement, Holly said: ‘Hi there. Good morning. Josie [Gibson], thank you for being here. Right, deep breath. Firstly, are you OK? 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.
‘You, me and 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 that they had to resign from ITV, and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process.
‘And it’s equally hard to see the toll that 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 this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.
‘And, from my heart, can I just say thank you for all of your kind messages. And thank you for being here this morning. Myself, Josie [Gibson], Dermot [O’Leary], Alison [Hammond], Craig [Doyle], and every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you this show that we love.’
Prior to the show airing, friends of Phillip said he would not tune in to watch Holly’s return to the sofa as it would be too ‘triggering’ for him.
In his interview with The Sun, he apologised to Holly for lying to her about his relationship, saying: ‘I’ve lost my best friend.’
He added: ‘I let her down. I let that entire show down. I let the viewers down. 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”.
‘She didn’t reply and I understand why she didn’t reply as well. So, yeah, if anyone is in any way linking Holly to this, that is absolutely, wholly untrue.’
The duo, had presented the show together since 2009 and also co-hosted Dancing On Ice.
Holly’s return comes as the ITV show has been plagued by allegations of ‘toxicity’, including from former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes who has alleged there was a ‘total cover-up’ over the Schofield affair.
Hurt: Holly, 42, told This Morning’s viewers ‘we gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth’ as she returned to the show for the first time since Phillip’s exit in the wake of news he had an affair with a younger male colleague
