'SHAKEN' HOLLY: WE FEEL SO LET DOWN BY PHIL

'WE GAVE OUR LOVE TO SOMEONE WHO WASN’T TELLING THE TRUTH’ | We’ve had a lot to deal with, says Holly as she appears with new TV partner

- Lizzie Edmonds

HOLLY WILLOUGHBY today made an emotional return to This Morning, saying she felt “shaken, troubled, let down and worried” about the events that led to Phillip Schofield’s departure from the ITV programme.

Willoughby appeared on screen for the first time since co-host Schofield left and his subsequent revelation of an affair with a younger ITV male employee. She appeared to be fighting back tears as she said it “feels very strange indeed” to be on the show without Schofield, adding that the team “gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth”. Sitting with temporary co-host Josie Gibson, Willoughby said: “Josie, thank you for being here. Right, deep breath.” She continued: “Firstly, are you okay? I hope so. It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil. And I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have — shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what’s been going on, and full of questions.”

 

During interviews last week, Schofield told The Sun and the BBC that Willoughby, 44, did not know about the “unwise, but not illegal” affair, and has apologised for lying to her.