The presenter didn’t shy away from the Phillip Schofield controversy. <\/p>
Holly Willoughby issued a statement about former co-presenter Phillip Schofield<\/a> as she returned to This Morning\u2019s sofa today after a two-week break.<\/p>\n The long-time face of the daytime show hasn\u2019t been seen on screen since Schofield\u2019s sudden exit<\/a>, which came shortly before news broke that he had previously had an affair with a younger colleague<\/a>.<\/p>\n In her absence, Dermot O\u2019Leary and Alison Hammond have been presenting the programme, with the latter tipped as the favourite to take Schofield\u2019s place on the sofa. Today, Willoughby was back with co-host Josie Gibson.<\/p>\n As today\u2019s show got under way, Willoughby addressed the situation head-on while fighting back tears, saying: \u201cHi there, good morning. Josie, thank you for being here. Right, deep breath. Firstly, are you OK? I hope so. Feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have. Shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the well-being of people on all sides of what\u2019s been going on, and full of questions.<\/p>\n \u201cYou, 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is a lot to progress. And it\u2019s equally hard to see the toll that it\u2019s taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and well-being for 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.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd 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, Dermot, Alison, Craig and every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every single to day to bring you the show that we love. So on that note, Josie\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n They then hugged and Josie added: \u201cAll we can do now is be the family that we are.\u201d<\/p>\n A message to you, from Holly. pic.twitter.com\/TwiqxbSwSn<\/a><\/p>\u2014 This Morning (@thismorning) June 5, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>