05 June 2023 , 10:17
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Holly Willoughby's prepared statement addressing Phillip Schofield and the scandal surrounding him at This Morning was peppered with subtle digs towards her former co-host.
The 42-year-old gripped onto colleague Josie Gibson's hand as she admitted that it felt "very strange" being there without Phillip.
Launching into her statement, Holly addressed viewers as she said that she felt "shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what's been going on" and that she was "full of questions".
She went on to refer to herself and those at This Morning giving their "love and support to someone who was not telling the truth" and who "acted in a way that they themselves felt that they had to resign from ITV".
Holly Willoughby addressed Phillip Schofield's departure and scandal (ITV)
Phillip's friends claimed he wouldn't be watching the show (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Phillip, 61, initially quit This Morning after 21 years amid rumours of a rift between himself and co-star Holly following a "difficult few days" amid his brother's court case.
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But in a shocking turn, the host was axed completely from ITV - including from his presenting roles on Dancing On Ice and the British Soap Awards - after he admitted to lying about an affair he had with a much younger male colleague.
After his statement, Holly said that she was "hurt" that she had been lied to, while ITV bosses expressed their "deep disappointment" over his "deceit".
Her full statement read: "Deep breath - firstly, are you OK? I hope so. It feels very strange sitting here without Phil and 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 been going on, and full of questions.
"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 that they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process.
"And it's equally hard to see the toll that it's taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and wellbeing of everyone. 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.
"And from my own heart, can I just say thank you for all of your kind messages and thank you for being here this morning. Myself, Josie, Dermot, Alison and Craig and every single person on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you the show that we love."