This Morning viewers baffled by 'missing' Holly as she's replaced on show

05 October 2023 , 11:21

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Holly Willoughby missed Thursday's show (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

This Morning fans were left wondering where Holly Willoughby was as she was missing from the show.

The ITV daytime show returned on Thursday without the host, leaving Josie Gibson and Alison Hammond to present the show together. Holly normally presents the show from Monday to Thursdays but was no where to be seen. The pair didn't address Holly's absence, leaving viewers wondering where she was.

Taking to social media, one viewer said: "Just tuned in, is Holly ill or just 'off'?" Another asked: "Where’s Holly I missed the beginning #ThisMorning." Someone else quipped: "Holly having a day off!!" The presenter appeared on This Morning as usual on Wednesday, but was left red-faced after a rude blunder.

Josie and Alison presented Thursdays show (ITV)

She was hosting alongside Josie, but when they got to the Spin To Win segment the show took an awkward turn. In order for the caller to win the bag of This Morning goodies, the lucky winner was asked: "Which Strictly judge is on later?" To which he replied: "What's her name? Shirley B*****d."

Josie punched the air as Holly corrected: "Shirley Ballas." The caller then realised his mistake as Holly added: "I think we all need to listen to that back, sorry if you heard anything different there." Later, Holly apologised: "We just wanted to say when we played Spin To Win with Ryan, who won a £3,000 jackpot which is amazing, and I think in the moment he may have lost himself slightly with the answer of which Strictly judge is going to see us. And, he may have said something that he didn't mean, so we're very sorry if you heard that and also, sorry to Shirley as well."

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This Morning viewers found the blunder amusing as one tweeted: "Coming up after the break, it's Shirley B*****d #ThisMorning. Another questioned: "Did someone just refer to Shirley Ballas as Shirley Bastard? #ThisMorning."However, many were left divided over whether there had been a blunder in the first place. One argued: "@thismorning Ryan did not swear he said Shirley BASSEY #ThisMorning #spintowin," and another viewer agreed: "I thought he said Shirley Bassey not swearing #ThisMorning."

Senior staff have been looking for a presenter to work alongside Holly Willoughby on the sofa after Phillip Schofield's sensational showbusiness exit earlier this year. Ever since Phillip's departure from ITV and This Morning in May and admitting to an "unwise but not illegal affair", there has been a rotating set of presenters working alongside Holly. Holly, Alison Hammond, Dermot O'Leary, Craig Doyle, Josie Gibson and seemingly now also Ben Shephard have all stepped in to co-host the show. While recent reports suggest senior bosses have been looking for a permanent replacement for Phil.

Mia O'Hare