Normal service wasn’t exactly resumed, but Rochelle Humes did her best to ensure Monday’s edition of This Morning aired without consequence after stepping in for Holly Willoughby.
The former Saturdays singer was parachuted in as an eleventh hour replacement for Willoughby after the presenter confirmed she is stricken with shingles and will miss at least one week of action on the live show.
The condition, which is transferrable through direct contact, is typically characterized by a painful rash and blisters – usually on the left or right side of the body or face.
And with Willoughby, 42, forced to remain at home until her symptoms pass, Humes, 34, was on hand to welcome Phillip Schofield back to This Morning after his own lengthy hiatus
The presenter, 61, was back on the couch for the first time since pedophile brother Timothy, a former school teacher, was convicted of 11 sexual offences against a boy.
Side by side: Normal service wasn’t exactly resumed, but Rochelle Humes did her best to ensure Monday’s This Morning aired without a hitch after stepping in for Holly Willoughby
Stepping in: The former Saturdays singer was parachuted in as an eleventh hour replacement for Willoughby after the presenter confirmed she is stricken with shingles
Sitting alongside Schofield, Humes looked radiant in a lime green dress with an off-the-shoulder detail as they kicked off the week.
Earlier that day she took to Instagram to share a behind the scenes shot at ITV’s studios, telling followers: ‘Looking after my girl Holly Willoughby’s seat this week’.
Until Sunday, Alison Hammond and Joel Dommett had taken Schofield’s place.
This Morning’s Instagram post about Monday’s episode of the magazine show – which included an interview with former footballer Paul Gascoigne – read: ‘Phillip and Rochelle have a packed show… and a very special live announcement from Alison Hammond around midday.’
Stepping in: Humes took to Instagram on Monday morning to reveal she was prepared to ‘fill her girl’s seat’, in Holly Willoughby’s absence
Get well soon! On Sunday, show stalwart Willoughby announced she was suffering with shingles, so would not be on the couch
Back again: Schofield appeared on the couch for the first time since the conviction of his pedophile brother, Timothy
Here again: This Morning’s Instagram post about Monday’s episode of the magazine show read: ‘Phillip and Rochelle have a packed show… and a very special live announcement from Alison Hammond around midday’
Schofield has publicly disowned his brother, who is seven years his junior, after he was convicted of 11 sexual offences against a boy, including two of sexual activity with a child, in a case where the star gave evidence.
In a written statement the broadcaster said his brother had phoned him in an agitated and upset state and he had invited him to drive to his London house for a meal.
Schofield said Timothy had later said ‘you are going to hate me for what I am about to say’ before confessing that he had masturbated with the boy while watching porn.
The This Morning host exploded with rage and told him: ‘You’ve got to stop, just never do it again’, the jury heard.
You’ll be missed! The TV host took to her Instagram Stories on Sunday to reveal her health woes will delay her return to the daytime programme after the Easter break
In a statement released by his lawyer after the guilty verdict, Schofield said: ‘My overwhelming concern is and has always been for the wellbeing of the victim and his family. I hope that their privacy will now be respected.’
He continued: ‘If any crime had ever been confessed to me by my brother, I would have acted immediately to protect the victim and their family. These are despicable crimes, and I welcome the guilty verdicts. As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother.’
A source told the Mirror that Schofield’s management company previously revealed they would like him back on screen as soon as possible.
They said: ‘YMU’s view was the sooner Phillip was back the better.
Back again: A source told the Mirror that Schofield’s management company would like him back on screen as soon as possible (pictured in March 2023)
‘But ITV offered him the chance to have more time off. They felt a longer break would benefit him as he has been in bits at points over the past few weeks. They were also keen to see how audiences responded to other presenters.
‘ITV have a lot of talent and this was a good opportunity to test people out. It is possible in future there may be a presenting shakeup, and experiments like this are really helpful.’
Willoughby took to her Instagram Stories on Sunday to reveal her health woes will delay her return to ITV’s main daytime programme.
She wrote: ‘Hi… Just to let you know I may be away for the rest of the week as I have shingles… I’ll be back as soon as I’m better. Huge Love, Holly xxx.’
Official: A statement released by Schofield following his brother’s conviction
Shamed: Timothy Schofield was convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019
