Holly Willoughby ‘has nothing to hide’ and can return to This Morning subsequent week
H
olly Willoughby will return to current This Morning subsequent week and “carry on like the professional she is”.
She is because of return to the present on Monday June 5 after the half-term break, having taken an early vacation after news of Phillip Schofield’s departure emerged.
Schofield 61, resigned from the broadcaster on Friday and was dropped by his expertise company YMU after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a youthful male colleague.
On Wednesday, a supply informed The Sun of Willoughby: “She has made it clear she was one of the people Phil lied to and she has nothing to hide.
“She will return to This Morning as planned on Monday and carry on like the professional she is.
“Holly has been affected by Phil’s actions and it has been very difficult. She is devoted to This Morning, however, and will continue to do the best job she can for them.”
On Saturday, Willoughby wrote on Instagram that it had “taken time to process yesterday’s news” following Schofield’s assertion, including: “When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not. It’s been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie.”
Willoughby’s return comes as This Morning has been affected by allegations of “toxicity” since Schofield’s exit, with Eamonn Holmes alleging there was a “total cover-up” over the Schofield affair.
The present’s former resident physician, Dr Ranj Singh, additionally hit out on the present’s “toxic” tradition, saying he raised issues about “bullying and discrimination” two years in the past when he labored there and afterwards felt like he was “managed out” for whistleblowing.
ITV bosses are anticipated to look earlier than MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, the place the difficulty of Schofield’s conduct could possibly be raised.
The session is predicted to deal with scrutiny of the forthcoming Media Bill, with SNP MP John Nicolson – a committee member – writing on Twitter: “The issues erupting around ITV have been a cause for concern.
“I look forward to getting some answers from ITV bosses.”
Dame Carolyn McCall, ITV’s chief government, could possibly be amongst these to face questioning subsequent week from MPs, The Times studies.
Schofield’s relationship happened whereas the TV star was nonetheless married to spouse Stephanie Lowe and earlier than he got here out publicly as homosexual.
In an Instagram submit earlier on Monday, Schofield hit again at critics, saying that there was “no toxicity” on This Morning.
Referring to these feedback, Holmes, who beforehand offered ITV’s flagship daytime present on Fridays with spouse Ruth Langsford, as a substitute accused Schofield of “toxicity” including: “But, my friend, the toxicity is not with me, Dan Wootton or anyone else. The toxicity is with you.”
On Tuesday, the Prince’s Trust charity dropped Schofield as an envoy, saying it’s “no longer appropriate” to work with him.
A Prince’s Trust spokesperson mentioned: “In light of Phillip’s recent admissions, we have agreed with him that it is no longer appropriate to work together.”
Schofield is in a bunch photograph that’s nonetheless on the charity’s web site and options the King and different movie star ambassadors.
ITV additionally mentioned it was “deeply disappointed” by his “admissions of deceit” however it had not discovered “any evidence beyond hearsay and rumour” in regards to the relationship in its personal investigation.
On Saturday, a spokesperson mentioned: “Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.
“Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours, as did Phillip’s then agency YMU.
“In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.
In light of Phillip’s recent admissions, we have agreed with him that it is no longer appropriate to work together
“Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship.”
When This Morning aired on Monday, hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond and contributor Gyles Brandreth appeared to defend the present from the toxicity allegations.
Schofield had offered This Morning since 2002, with Willoughby becoming a member of the programme in 2009.
The pair’s pleasant relationship and casual nature on the programme resulted in viral segments and trade recognition, together with a number of National Television Awards.