Comedian and author David Baddiel went viral on social media with his brutal takedown of the Holly Willoughby’s famous This Morning speech. The ITV star this week gave a statement on-air about the departure of long-time co-host Phillip Schofield from the show and began ‘Are you OK?’.
The moment has been much discussed with many finding it a bit strange and sanctimonious - and some said they had found it insincere. And Britain’s Got Talent star Amanda Holden seemed to poke fun at it posting a video on her instagram in a similar white dress and deep tan asking ‘Are you ok?’
Baddiel, who is a successful children’s author tweeted: “When Holly Willoughby said “Firstly, are you OK?” I genuinely thought she was talking to someone behind camera, before realising that of course she was talking to us, the great British deeply-traumatised by everything’s that happened on an ITV morning show public.”
And subsequently he added yesterday: “Firstly, are you ok? Sorry, that was an idiotic thing to say. I meant - deep breath - are *you* ok?” Then he was pleased at the response adding: “The good thing about this is that all your replies about your lives are very nice and interesting. Maybe Holly was on to something. Going to start every day with that from now on.”
His Tweets sparked a big reaction. zx_spectrum_30 said: “She was so sincere I can only assume she had been possessed by the ghost of Bob Monkhouse.” Matthew Stadlen added: “It was one of the most surreal things I’ve seen on a TV clip. A mass infantilisation.”
Steve H replied: “I answered “No, Holly, I’m not,” but she didn’t show any interest in my well-being. It was all about her. She’s dead to me now.” Dr Dan Keown MCEM Lic Ac said: “Narcissism hit a 9.8 there. Missing a genuine tear so can’t get full marks.”
Schofield, 61, resigned from ITV last month and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger male colleague. Seated next to her temporary co-host Josie Gibson, Willoughby said: “Josie, thank you for being here. Right, deep breath.”
She continued: “Firstly, are you OK? 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.”
The Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has said she is “very pleased” that ITV has instructed a barrister to carry out an external review of the facts following Phillip Schofield’s departure. Ms Frazer said: “I think there’s an incident that’s happened. I’m very, very pleased that ITV are taking it seriously.
“I’m very pleased that they wrote to me, and to the committee, I’m very pleased that they’ve appointed a KC to investigate the position.”
