ITV issues update on Holly Willoughby's return to This Morning with show back on screen tomorrow
28.05.2023 - 19:05
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
ITV has issued an update on the return of Holly Willoughby to This Morning after her former co-presenter Phillip Schofield quit ITV and admitted to an affair with a younger male colleague on the show. Phillip, 61, resigned from ITV on Friday and was dropped by his talent agency after admitting to an 'unwise, but not illegal' affair.
Rumours of the relationship were investigated by ITV in 2020, but the broadcaster said both Phillip and the ex colleague 'categorically and repeatedly denied' them. Holly, 41, who has presented This Morning with Phillip since 2009, said her former co-presenter had denied having the relationship to her - and said his admission now was "very hurtful."
Phillip revealed to the Daily Mail that he had quit ITV altogether, which means he won't be hosting this week's British Soap Awards, almost a week after announcing that he had left This Morning after 20 years. He added how he had 'not been truthful' about the relationship, which began while he was still with his wife Stephanie, in 'an effort to protect [his] ex-colleague'.
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Phillip said his departure from This Morning was 'unrelated' to that relationship, but had 'fuelled speculation and raised questions', which he said had been 'impacting' the person involved. The presenter has faced months of controversy due to reports of a rift with Holly, his brother’s child sex abuse trial and the furore over his visit to the late Queen’s lying-in-state.
A spokesperson for ITV said the broadcaster was 'deeply disappointed' by the 'admissions of deceit'. The spokesperson added that Phillip's statement revealed he 'lied to people at ITV', including his colleagues and his management.
ITV