“This Morning” anchor Holly Willoughby has returned to the show after a two-week absence following the resignation of her long-time  co-host Phillip Schofield.
ITV's This Morning. She was joined by guest anchor Josie Gibson
The presenter's appearance on Monday's show was her first since the departure of her co-host Phillip Schofield. Schofield left his role on This Morning last month following reports of a rift with Willoughby. Addressing his viewers Willoughby said he felt "very strange indeed sitting here without Phil", he asked viewers: "Are you OK? I hope so, it feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil. I imagine you might be feeling a lot like I have, shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what's going on, and full of questions. Adding "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 they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved.
Willoughby continued: 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 thank you for all of your kind messages, and thank you for being here this morning. Every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you the show that we love."
Willoughby's emotional opening speech did not overshadow the rest of the programmer. She and Gibson cleanly and skilfully segued into the show's regular tone and content. “Another viewer referred to Willoughby's almost angelic on-screen look: "If I was a cynical person, I'd say they've made a very conscious decision to dress Holly Willoughby in white for her big speech."
If the TV star wants to survive on the show, she will have to use the next few weeks to prove that she can still connect with viewers and build an authentic chemistry with the various guest hosts.
Willoughby, 42, hosted "This Morning" alongside Schofield for more than a decade. She took time off after his departure, and was back on air Monday. When the news broke that he would be departing the show initially, she shared a statement of support, despite speculation circling around tensions between the co-hosts.
She said in a statement that she asked Schofield about the relationship when reports first surfaced. "I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not," she said. "It's been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie."
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